Hawaii’s Senate passes Steven Tyler Act celebrity privacy bill

HONOLULU (Reuters) – The Hawaii state Senate has approved legislation named for Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler that would make it easier for celebrities to sue paparazzi and others they see as invading their privacy.

Tyler, 64, who lives part-time on the Hawaiian island of Maui, testified on behalf of the bill, which supporters say will make the state more attractive to the rich and famous. Opponents criticise the measure as vague and potentially unconstitutional.

This February 8 file photo shows Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler testifying on celebrity privacy during a hearing at the Hawaii Capitol in Honolulu. AP

The measure would allow celebrities to sue anyone who “attempts to capture, in a manner that is offensive to a reasonable person, any type of visual image, sound recording, or other physical impression of the plaintiff engaging in a personal or familial activity on land owned or leased by the plaintiff.”

The Steven Tyler Act cleared the Senate on Tuesday with only two of the body’s 25 members voting against it. The proposal now goes to the state House of Representatives.

“Public figures, such as celebrities, already have a diminished expectation of privacy,” Hawaii Senate Judiciary Chairman Clayton Hee wrote in support of the bill. “Thus, private moments while vacationing and engaged in activities with family and friends are even more precious for public figures.”