Kelsey Upton was a high school student also enrolled at GPC when she was profiled in the Spring 2012 issue of The Chronicle. (photo by Bill Roa)

Changes advocated by a former Georgia Perimeter College dual enrollment student found their way through the Georgia Legislature this year, gaining approval in April.

Kelsey Upton was a high school student also enrolled at GPC when she was profiled in the Spring 2012 issue of The Chronicle. She had been working as a national anti-bullying advocate after she discovered she had been a victim of cyber bullying.

Working with Upton’s family, State Rep. Pam Dickerson was trying to pass legislation to fight cyber bullying.

In April, Kelsey’s Law was finally passed. Sponsored by Georgia state Reps. Dave Belton and Dickerson, the bill makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally cause a minor to be identified as someone in an obscene depiction. This includes electronically imposing a minor’s face onto an obscene depiction or providing the minor’s name, address, telephone number or email address.

The violation applies to all Georgia residents, even if they conduct the act in another state. Charges also can be made against those residing in other states, if the accused commits the violation within the state of Georgia.

Upton discovered that she had been the target of cyber bullying when a text appeared on her cell phone. A 55-year-old Iowa man had found her name, phone number and email on a pornographic website and contacted her. She says she was afraid and shocked.

She went to her parents, and her father contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI identified the man who posted Kelsey’s information online, but according to the GBI, the man could not be charged with a crime. At the time there was no law in Georgia—or any state in the nation—making it illegal to post minors’ personal information on a website without their consent.