in brief: massachusetts bans up-skirting

Massachusetts passed a bill last Thursday that bans ‘up-skirting’, in response to a recent ruling that said a law aimed at criminalising voyeurism did not apply to the snapping of secret photos up a woman’s skirt without her consent.

The bill would make photographing or recording video under a person’s clothing illegal, and now goes to Governor Deval Patrick, who has publicly committed to signing it.

The act of ‘up-skirting’ would be made a misdemeanour.

The passing of the bill has stemmed from the case against Michael Robertson, 32, who was arrested in 2010 and accused of using his cell phone to take pictures and record video up the skirts and dresses of women.

The case against Robertson was dismissed on Wednesday after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in his favour.

Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley called for a rewrite of the law on Wednesday during a press conference.