Prohibits speech-based defenses to actions brought against an individual for the unlawful dissemination or publication of an intimate image

This bill prohibits using free speech as a defense in legal cases involving the unauthorized sharing of intimate images. It directly affects individuals who unlawfully post or distribute private images without consent, whether in criminal cases under the Penal Law or civil cases under the Civil Rights Law. The key mechanism adds new sections to both laws, explicitly stating that free speech protections cannot be raised to defend such actions. The bill removes a potential legal argument for offenders, making it clearer that sharing intimate images without permission is punishable regardless of speech claims.