San Mateo Man Pleads No Contest to Revenge Porn Charges

Percival Haiyue Ong, a 31-year-old man from San Mateo County, pleaded no contest to the charge of distribution of a sexual image to cause emotional distress according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office. In the case, Ong was accused of posting an explicit video of his ex-girlfriend online in October 2020, following their breakup, in an apparent act of revenge.

The prevalence of nonconsensual pornography, also known as "revenge porn", has been steadily rising over the years. The pandemic has only exacerbated the situation, creating a ripe environment for tech-based abuse as reported by The Washington Post. In these cases, would-be victims are more vulnerable and isolated, while the abusers have more time on their hands.

The Center for Innovative Public Health Research estimates that 1 in 25 Americans has been a victim of threats or posts of nearly nude or nude images without their permission. Although the voluntary exchange of intimate content is a common practice, nonconsensual sharing can lead to severe emotional trauma for the victims. Indeed, research indicates that victims of nonconsensual pornography experience a similar level of trauma as sexual assault survivors.

Furthermore, the consequences often reach beyond the emotional impact on the victims. In many cases, the victims face career setbacks and personal challenges due to the stigma associated with nonconsensual pornography. Even when the perpetrators are caught, they often face limited consequences, and tech platforms have been criticized for not being responsive enough to the needs and complaints of victims.

Young women, in particular, are disproportionately affected by this form of abuse, making up 90% of nonconsensual pornography victims according to the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative. Society often places the blame on the victims, questioning why they shared intimate content in the first place, rather than focusing on the actions of the abusers. This perpetuates an environment where women continue to be victimized and face reputational harm.