Disclosure of personal secrets (Article 157 of the Criminal Code of Georgia) involves the illegal obtaining, storage, use, dissemination, or making available of personal or family secrets, information depicting private life, or personal data. This crime is particularly severe when it involves intimate material (photos/videos), the dissemination of which can cause irreparable harm to a person's reputation and mental state. Accused individuals are often former partners ("Revenge Porn"), hackers, or persons with professional access to confidential information. Legislation strictly punishes this act, especially if it occurs through mass media (internet).
What does the Disclosure of Personal Secrets Defense service cover?
Lawyer assistance is essential for both the accused (to protect rights) and the victim (to stop harm). Services include:
- Qualification of the act: Determining whether the disseminated information was indeed a "personal secret." Sometimes information was public, and its spread is not a crime.
- Digital footprint expertise: Analyzing IP addresses and logs to determine if the accused actually disseminated the material (or if their account was hacked).
- Motive research: Was there an intent to cause harm, or did the dissemination happen due to negligence.
- Plea agreement: Mitigating the sentence if the accused cooperates and deletes the illegal material.