'Sexting' now banned in Victoria

So-called "sexting" without consent is now an offence in Victoria.

From Monday, anyone who maliciously or deliberately spreads intimate images of another person - or threatens to do so - faces prosecution under two new offences.

The ban applies to intimate images of anyone under the age of 18 as well as images of adults without their consent.

Those who illegally spread such images can be jailed for up to two years.

Those who threaten to distribute them can be jailed for up to one year.

The new laws also introduce exceptions to child pornography offences so those under 18 will not be prosecuted or placed on the sex offenders' register for consensual, non-exploitative sexting.

Attorney-General Robert Clark said it was important the law kept up with changing technology.

"Previously, the law provided only limited protection against malicious distribution of intimate images and this behaviour can cause considerable harm to victims, especially when images go viral," he said in a statement.