Jail terms proposed for 'revenge porn'

Sharing naked photos of a former lover online to get revenge for a break-up could land Australians in jail for three years if a pair of Labor MPs get their way.

Federal opposition backbenchers Tim Watts and Terri Butler have released draft laws and a discussion paper detailing their plan to criminalise "revenge porn".

The bill makes it an offence to share online or by SMS, or threaten to share, a private sexual image without consent from the person in the photo.

It also makes it a crime to threaten a third party with sharing someone's nude photo - for instance, telling a mother you will publish naked pictures of her daughter online.

Running a "revenge porn" website specifically to publish such images would attract a five-year jail term.

The laws focus on the effect on the victim, with the photo sharing often designed to shame and humiliate the subject or punish them for ending the relationship.

Without criminal provisions, Australian victims of revenge porn are forced to rely on civil law, such as seeking an injunction or claiming breach of copyright.

Mr Watts and Ms Butler say that's not ideal.

They're taking comments on their private members' bill until October 2.