118 S3718 IS: Preventing Rampant Online Technological Exploitation and Criminal Trafficking Act of 2024 U.S. Senate 2024-01-31 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
II118th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 3718IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJanuary 31, 2024Mr. Lee introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryA BILLTo prevent the distribution of intimate visual depictions without consent.
1.
Short title; table of contents
(a)
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Preventing Rampant Online Technological Exploitation and Criminal Trafficking Act of 2024 or the PROTECT Act of 2024.(b)
Table of contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Sec. 2. Findings.Sec. 3. Definitions.Sec. 4. Severability clause.TITLE I—Regulating the uploading of pornographic images to online platformsSec. 101. Verification obligations of covered platform operators.Sec. 102. Removal of images distributed without consent.Sec. 103. Obligations of users.TITLE II—EnforcementSec. 201. Civil enforcement.Sec. 202. Criminal prohibition on nonconsensual distribution of intimate visual depictions.
2.
Findings
Congress finds the following:(1)In the United States, reports of child sexual abuse material (referred to in this section as CSAM) have grown exponentially in recent years, from 3,000 reports in 1998 to more than 1,000,000 in 2014 and 18,400,000 in 2018. The New York Times called it an almost unfathomable increase in criminal behavior.(2)The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (referred to in this section as NCMEC), which is based in the United States, recorded more than 29,300,000 reports of suspected CSAM to its CyberTipline in 2021, the highest number of reports ever received in a single year and a 35 percent increase from 2020. Those reports included 85,000,000 images, videos, and other files of suspected CSAM and incident-related content.(3)Recent trends reported by NCMEC include increasingly graphic and violent sexual abuse images, and videos of infants and young children.(4)The Daily, a podcast hosted by the New York Times, reported in 2019 that CSAM had so overwhelmed law enforcement agencies in the United States that the Federal Bureau of Investigation, for example, had prioritized investigating material depicting infants and toddlers, not older children.(5)The COVID–19 pandemic has resulted in a surge in the online distribution of CSAM, which was remarkably high even before the pandemic. During the pandemic, NCMEC reported a 106-percent increase in the sharing of CSAM globally. The increased number of offenders exchanging CSAM during lockdowns has continued to stimulate demand for CSAM beyond the lockdowns.(6)Project Arachnid is a web platform administered by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (referred to in this section as C3P) that is designed to detect known images of CSAM and issue removal notices to electronic service providers when possible. C3P has reported, It is a common misconception that CSAM and harmful-abusive content are relegated solely to the dark web.. In fact, 97 percent of the illegal media detected by Project Arachnid hides in plain sight on the clear web on image or file hosting services, forums, content delivery networks, and both mainstream adult pornography websites, such as Pornhub, XVideos, OnlyFans, and YouPorn, and fringe adult pornography websites.(7)In 2021, NCMEC reported that a majority of CSAM reports, more than 29,157,083 out of 29,397,681, came from electronic service providers.(8)An alarming and increasing number of adults are being depicted in online pornography without their knowledge or consent. These individuals are often victims of sexual abuse, sex trafficking, rape, sexual exploitation, sextortion, and forms of image-based sexual abuse such as nonconsensual distribution of sexually explicit material.(9)Most pornography websites do not effectively verify the age of the users who upload content to their platforms. Nor do these websites make an effort to effectively verify the age, consent, or identity of all individuals who are depicted in the pornographic content.(10)Pornography websites attract hundreds of millions of visitors daily. The 2 most-visited pornography websites in 2023, for example, reported attracting more than 693,500,000 and 629,500,000 monthly users, respectively, each exceeding the traffic of Netflix, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or LinkedIn.(11)Pornography websites profit from the content uploaded to their platforms, including content that depicts or involves rape, child exploitation and abuse, and sex trafficking. In 2019, 6 high-level individuals employed by an online pornographic distributor were convicted of sex trafficking. Over an 11-year period, that platform generated more than $17,000,000 in revenue.(12)Not only are high-ranking officers of pornography websites aware of the proliferation of CSAM material on their platforms, but they appear to knowingly decline to investigate reports of nonconsensual or underage sexually explicit materials on the platforms. A 2021 lawsuit revealed that Pornhub’s parent company Aylo, at the time known as MindGeed USA Incorporated, had a policy to only review videos flagged for rape or sexual abuse if the video received at least 16 unique reports. If a video had 15 or fewer reports, Pornhub refused to investigate. Internal emails stated that as of May 27, 2020, Pornhub had a backlog of 706,425 videos of possible rape or child sexual abuse with 15 or fewer reports. At the time of the lawsuit, only 1 out of Pornhub’s 1,400 total employees was tasked with reviewing videos reported for violence or CSAM full-time. Pornhub’s chief executive officer called these policies good and reasonable.(13)The ongoing exploitation of underage or nonconsenting individuals by highly visited pornography websites is evidenced by a recent series of successful lawsuits. One case, involving 22 victims of sex trafficking and fraud, concluded in a nearly $13,000,000 verdict against a pornography content producer who coerced women and children into producing sexual content. Another 34 women, some of whom are victims of child sex trafficking, filed a lawsuit against a pornographic website for failing to take proper precautions to verify the content uploaded to its platform and monetizing the illegal content.(14)The internet has revolutionized the pornography industry, making pornographic content incomparably more available, accessible, affordable, and anonymous than at any previous time in the history of the United States. Today, substantial majorities of teenagers have viewed pornography. A United States population-based probability study found that 84 percent of males and 57 percent of females between the ages of 14 and 18 have viewed pornography, belying the industry’s faux status as so-called adult entertainment. Moreover, pornography has contributed to the normalization of sexual violence among the youth of the United States. Numerous studies have demonstrated that viewing pornography harms youth, as it contributes to sexually violent attitudes and conduct towards children and adults and creates unrealistic expectations for intimate relationships. Additionally, research has demonstrated that the demand for online pornography has fueled an increase in purchasing sex from prostituted or sex trafficked individuals.(15)The online pornography industry has remained unchecked and generally immune from regulations. Online creators and distributors of pornographic content should be held to standards that require informed and thorough consent as well as age-verification. Currently, no substantive laws govern consent in pornography, which has permitted rampant abuses to occur.(16)Companies should not profit from the sexual exploitation of children and adults. Requiring pornographic websites to verify the age, consent, and identity of individuals appearing in pornographic content on their platforms would substantially curb the rampant exploitation of all children and adults online.(17)The harms to victims of CSAM and image-based sexual abuse are deep and enduring. Every time an image or video of their exploitation is shared, their abuse is repeated and amplified.
3.
Definitions
(a)
In general
In this Act:(1)
Coerced consent
The term coerced consent means purported consent obtained from a person—(A)through fraud, duress, misrepresentation, undue influence, or nondisclosure;(B)who lacks capacity; or(C)though exploiting or leveraging the person’s—(i)immigration status;(ii)pregnancy;(iii)disability;(iv)addiction;(v)juvenile status; or(vi)economic circumstances.(2)
Consent
The term consent—(A)means an agreement that is informed and thorough; and(B)does not include coerced consent.(3)
Covered platform
(A)
In general
The term covered platform means an interactive computer service that hosts or makes available to the general public pornographic images.(B)
Availability to public
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the availability of pornographic images to a group of subscribers shall be considered availability to the general public if any member of the general public (subject to reasonable limitations) can obtain a subscription.(4)
Covered platform operator
The term covered platform operator means a provider of a covered platform.(5)
Interactive computer service
The term interactive computer service has the meaning given the term in section 230(f) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230(f)).(6)
Intimate visual depiction
The term intimate visual depiction means any visual depiction—(A)of an individual who is reasonably identifiable from the visual depiction itself or information displayed in connection with the visual depiction, including through—(i)facial recognition;(ii)an identifying marking on the individual, including a birthmark or piercing;(iii)an identifying feature of the background of the visual depiction;(iv)voice matching; or(v)written confirmation from an individual who is responsible, in whole or in part, for the creation or development of the visual depiction; and(B)in which—(i)the individual depicted is engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or(ii)the naked genitals, anus, pubic area, or post-pubescent female nipple of the individual depicted are visible.(7)
Pornographic image
The term pornographic image means—(A)any visual depiction of actual or feigned sexually explicit conduct; or(B)any intimate visual depiction.(8)
User
The term user—(A)means an individual who is an information content provider (as defined in section 230(f) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230(f))); and(B)with respect to a covered platform, means an individual described in subparagraph (A) who is responsible, in whole or in part, for the creation or development of pornographic images hosted or made available by the covered platform.(b)
Terms defined in section 2256 of title 18, United States Code
For purposes of subsection (a)—(1)the term computer has the meaning given the term in section 2256 of title 18, United States Code;(2)the term sexually explicit conduct has the meaning given the term in section 2256(2)(A) of title 18, United States Code; and(3)the term visual depiction means a photograph, film, video, or modified photograph, film, or video, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means.
4.
Severability clause
If any provision of this Act or an amendment made by this Act, or the application of such a provision or amendment to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remaining provisions of this Act and amendments made by this Act, and the application of such provisions and amendments to any other person or circumstance, shall not be affected thereby.
<enum>I</enum><header>Regulating the uploading of pornographic images to online platforms</header><section id="id03ca6f221eb44f78a3698b3ce21033d0"><enum>101.</enum><header>Verification obligations of covered platform operators</header><subsection id="ide6ea36d13d554b93b51f4b3263540cf0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Verification of users</header><paragraph id="id586e709f77a0433fb8afe502783a643a"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A covered platform operator may not upload or allow a user to upload a pornographic image to the covered platform unless the operator has verified, in accordance with paragraph (2)—</text><subparagraph id="id1e9af7fca9b64a3b99d27635ff426cf7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the identity of the user; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide7afc680f20c4c6c9760ddf9d61a2819"><enum>(B)</enum><text>that the user is not less than 18 years old.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida646571c179c4d539502fe239d63cea6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Means of compliance</header><text>In carrying out paragraph (1), a covered platform operator shall verify the identity and age of a user by—</text><subparagraph id="id41f81d451d274a0e9f81fe49b40c7a9f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>requiring use of an adult access code or adult personal identification number;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd14260bf437e4e8eb8ff44582fda1d11"><enum>(B)</enum><text>accepting a digital certificate that verifies age; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddf78cd10e5b14ea39ceb99ca36c77981"><enum>(C)</enum><text>using any other reasonable measure of age verification that the Attorney General has determined to be feasible with available technology.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id76c6b957e8194ec5ae7a464ec3bf76af"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Insufficient user confirmation</header><text>Merely requiring a user to confirm that the user is not less than 18 years of age, without independent means of verification, shall not satisfy the requirement under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9605f55115c24c82b2ea0d1447c698a0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Verification of participants</header><paragraph id="id785c83f1fc8440339c6a449ea70fda0d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A covered platform operator may not upload or allow a user to upload a pornographic image to the covered platform unless the operator has verified, in accordance with paragraph (2), that each individual appearing in the pornographic image—</text><subparagraph id="id254471761910417e86b792179651986a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>was not less than 18 years of age when the pornographic image was created;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6dcfe46a6dc149608c98cce41aa623a4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>has provided explicit written evidence of consent for each sex act in which the individual engaged during the creation of the pornographic image; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8a09aedd0c8c44ec96103075ef18fa12"><enum>(C)</enum><text>has provided explicit written consent for the distribution of the specific pornographic image.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id215dfca8cfe84b9aa79cde963ff1e46d"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Separate consent for sex act and for distribution of image</header><subparagraph id="id5124861B242445F39F6584C68913899A"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Consent for sex act</header><text>Consent described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) does not imply or constitute evidence of consent described in subparagraph (C) of that paragraph.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE3EDD2FC1D824CB090D934F4B5EB6A23"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Consent for distribution of image</header><text>Consent described in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) does not imply or constitute evidence of consent described in subparagraph (B) of that paragraph.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8bcef34cee1b420b92122f319431c02a"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Means of compliance</header><text>In carrying out paragraph (1), a covered platform operator shall obtain, either from the user seeking to upload the pornographic image or through other means—</text><subparagraph id="id7a15168eb6b6408595a770738a90db1f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a consent form created or approved by the Attorney General under paragraph (4) from each individual appearing in the pornographic image that includes—</text><clause id="id22c2ed51a7f74915a19a00a72596de92"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the name, date of birth, and signature of the individual;</text></clause><clause id="id02f40f428bae4dcb96d65e07f5b7f4ce"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a statement that the individual is not less than 18 years of age, unless no reasonable person could conclude that the individual is less than 30 years of age;</text></clause><clause id="id09071257f75f403cae81c796c52d028a"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a statement that the consent is for distribution of the specific pornographic image;</text></clause><clause id="idb8d7fbac0ffa49639028d7098301169b"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the geographic area and medium, meaning online, print, or other distribution method, for which the individual provides consent to distribution of the pornographic image;</text></clause><clause id="idf3bbca45b4de46fe962251d9dd617aaa"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the duration of time for which the individual provides consent to distribution of the pornographic image;</text></clause><clause id="id0aaca00c02ea4c00b547080477cb0f1d"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>a list of the specific sex acts that the person agrees to engage in for the pornographic image; and</text></clause><clause id="id9cc761d8fe294006a766e09c211068ea"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>a statement that explains coerced consent and that the individual has the right to withdraw the individual’s consent at any time; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd72d005f3ffc4108a1072a0a92f57119"><enum>(B)</enum><text>not less than 1 form of valid identification for each individual appearing in the pornographic image—</text><clause id="id16e6afa57afd41d3b567b17c5f455ec5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>that—</text><subclause id="id2f65ddb729884546b633d448592a429b"><enum>(I)</enum><text>was issued by an agency of the Federal Government or of a State, local, or foreign government; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idbe98048a3e7c43c39c220c86b1f6a738"><enum>(II)</enum><text>contains the name, date of birth, signature, and photograph of the individual; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id49d0db147c2b4527b6f8c95d3e550f3a"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>on which the name, date of birth, and signature of the individual match the name, date of birth, and signature of the individual on the consent form required under subparagraph (A).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2b1685ff8f9b4e6a9a46a3d725c62159"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Creation and approval of consent forms by Attorney General</header><subparagraph id="id903efa01dd6d4b59b76eca1ff3a26e05"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Attorney General consent form</header><clause id="id75b7d0d3952443cabd0f1377c126bc65"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall create and make available to the public a consent form for purposes of paragraph (3)(A).</text></clause><clause id="ida33a33f583804aba82edffbb96e8e3f7"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Availability</header><text>On and after the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, a covered platform operator shall make the consent form created under clause (i) available to users in both written and electronic format.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id702190a3153b4a6d96e09ce4d085feba"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Approval of alternative consent forms</header><text>For purposes of paragraph (3)(A), a user may submit to a covered platform an alternative consent form created by a user or covered platform operator if the alternative consent form has been approved by the Attorney General.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3040f966780b4f32b64c6a1cfa7f0d2e"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective date; applicability</header><text>This section shall—</text><paragraph id="id39c5357810c94d0790519ca40db3a20b"><enum>(1)</enum><text>take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5e36eef7b7fd43c283ff7ba5834ff6f5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>apply to any pornographic image uploaded to a covered platform before, on, or after that effective date.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1441caedddb344489f8fa039633992a7"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Rules of construction</header><paragraph id="id51013f37c6724632adb93cb758b5441d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Obligations and criminal liability under other laws</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed to—</text><subparagraph id="idD4BAB229D67D444F9D6C181B8832C538"><enum>(A)</enum><text>affect any obligation of a covered platform under any other provision of Federal or State law; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9F0843FCED244B65B29EA0E5A6FE75FA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>impact or otherwise limit the criminal liability of a user or other individual under a Federal or State obscenity law.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3d02936cf66e4e4f9382b0c386794e55"><enum>(2)</enum><header>First Amendment-protected speech</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or impose a prior restraint on speech that is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idc791504477664c8b92e047053b4698e0"><enum>102.</enum><header>Removal of images distributed without consent</header><subsection id="id020587075ab3497cac442a2fcbd926b2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="id1fb5882a57b04768b6ea90d1efdc56e0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Authorized representative</header><text>The term <term>authorized representative</term>, with respect to an individual, means—</text><subparagraph id="id546a653184ad4efbbc40fc3490af9b1d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a person authorized in writing under State or other applicable law by the individual to act on behalf of the individual with regard to the matter in question; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3870354b55524f65a1aedd0302857625"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of an individual under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian of the individual.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idbc082db436b344a8b0efe231db4b5be8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligible person</header><text>The term <term>eligible person</term>, with respect to a pornographic image uploaded to a covered platform, means—</text><subparagraph id="ida9823e78be254dd3b41cd6c6cafb93c5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an individual who appears in the pornographic image and has not provided consent to, or has withdrawn consent in compliance with the laws of the applicable jurisdiction for, the distribution of the pornographic image;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id90bbcf2284814f868340f3df7965a1b7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an authorized representative of an individual described in subparagraph (A); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6aa49a88210b4f14a9bcc47bf152fa7a"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a Federal, State, Tribal, or local law enforcement officer acting pursuant to a valid court order.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id122946fc2eb949568918b81eb21b1f14"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Mechanism for removal</header><text>A covered platform operator shall—</text><paragraph id="id93f333ede19342fd90f46ce1c4771ca6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>establish a procedure for removing a pornographic image from the covered platform at the request of a person; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0dbbf80d0dc64bd78ae77a71661f3194"><enum>(2)</enum><text>designate 1 or more employees of the operator to be responsible for handling requests for removal of pornographic images.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idbf11907593834a4f9ccb2c8c6d2378e2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Notice</header><text>A covered platform operator shall display a prominently visible notice on the website or mobile application of the covered platform that provides instructions on how a person can request the removal of a pornographic image.</text></subsection><subsection id="idc038bb528eb34e6f85638f6852baeeb8"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Response to requests for removal</header><paragraph id="idD2E6DCE544824158AAB6478376EE846F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Requests from eligible persons</header><text>If a covered platform operator receives a request from an eligible person, through any request mechanism offered by the operator under subsection (b), to remove a pornographic image that is being hosted by the covered platform without the consent of an individual who appears in the pornographic image, the operator shall remove the pornographic image as quickly as possible, and in any event not later than 72 hours after receiving the request.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id200ae76a70ef49b2951e3efa13571cc5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requests from persons other than eligible persons</header><text>If a covered platform operator receives a request from a person other than an eligible person, through any request mechanism offered by the operator under subsection (b), to remove a pornographic image that is being hosted by the covered platform without the consent of an individual who appears in the pornographic image, not later than 72 hours after receiving the request—</text><subparagraph id="idFA1B99887A4A4F0BBFD6D9DECBF95A4B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the operator shall review the records of the operator with respect to the pornographic image to determine whether the pornographic image was uploaded to the platform in accordance with the verification requirements under subsections (a) and (b) of section 101; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1B7DDF4AFD3745BCAEC281AF2D531357"><enum>(B)</enum><text>if the operator determines under subparagraph (A) that the pornographic image was not uploaded to the platform in accordance with the verification requirements under subsections (a) and (b) of section 101, the operator shall remove the pornographic image.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="idc20096aefb784e6497d3b00a0edd43c4"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Blocking re-Uploads</header><text>In the case of a pornographic image that has been removed from a covered platform in accordance with this section, the covered platform operator shall block the pornographic image, and any altered or edited version of the pornographic image, from being uploaded to the covered platform again.</text></subsection><subsection id="id31619865A2E44705A81DC2265B662422"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Effective Date; applicability</header><paragraph id="id8e8fb757d12e4f08b9acca4670753473"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>This section shall—</text><subparagraph id="id2dd93100b704435983cd4d46eb635ceb"><enum>(A)</enum><text>except as provided in paragraph (2), take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id05ab3cd08c9348e49bacab6a0f761b65"><enum>(B)</enum><text>apply to any pornographic image uploaded to a covered platform before, on, or after that effective date.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id44e3928cfd8a4edea2e224dd5c988c0e"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Blocking re-uploads</header><text>Subsection (e) shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idddf657fee9a04c32ad092823a24815df"><enum>103.</enum><header>Obligations of users</header><subsection id="idbffa566d1d634fe8b65dec77e5d443ff"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Consent requirement</header><text>A user of a covered platform may not upload a pornographic image of an individual to the covered platform without the consent of the individual.</text></subsection><subsection id="id981570e9610a4c24b26a5e01c167b512"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Determination of consent</header><text>For purposes of subsection (a), whether an individual has provided consent to the uploading of an image shall be determined in accordance with this Act and applicable State law.</text></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Enforcement</header><section id="id849538e25da4454ab7704aeead55239b"><enum>201.</enum><header>Civil enforcement</header><subsection id="id8c7ddb0ee92a44f6ab79b893b3f66c1d"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Verification obligations of covered platform operators</header><paragraph id="id73d18c2a5cbd4c4986b51841e2f4f6ae"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Civil penalty for failure to verify users</header><subparagraph id="idf96ad04423084060b5b8c6756d5be398"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Attorney General may impose a civil penalty on any covered platform operator that violates section 101(a) in an amount of not more than $10,000 for each day during which a pornographic image remains on the covered platform in violation of that section, beginning 24 hours after the Attorney General provides notice of the violation to the operator.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF2415F82A9B24B2D943FD6704542CD89"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Per-day and per-image basis</header><text>A civil penalty under subparagraph (A) shall accrue on a per-day and per-image basis.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd25a0c42e10b47148b4a87c0b4ad9971"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Use of proceeds</header><text>Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, United States Code, the Attorney General may use the proceeds from a civil penalty collected under subparagraph (A) to carry out enforcement under this section.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida270f18ceb3848638ec7c5e8b1d16261"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Civil liability for failure to verify participants</header><text>If a covered platform operator violates section 101(b) with respect to a pornographic image, any person aggrieved by the violation may bring a civil action against the covered platform operator in an appropriate district court of the United States for damages in an amount equal to the greater of—</text><subparagraph id="id2bceeb18f8c74c388fbebb6545cc5497"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$10,000 for each day during which a pornographic image remains on the covered platform in violation of that section, calculated on a per-day and per-image basis; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb929126a17de4b6e94cbf4fc65fadba9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>actual damages.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ided15f5629586463bbe52f9e5c643ac24"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Removal of images distributed without consent</header><paragraph id="id0e2e222a06a048d4980e852c56a8df17"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Civil penalty for failure to establish mechanism for removal</header><subparagraph id="id2c6474dfbb12456a8a734afcc2678f64"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Attorney General may impose a civil penalty on any covered platform operator that violates section 102(b) in an amount of not more than $10,000 for each day during which the covered platform remains in violation of that section, beginning 24 hours after the Attorney General provides notice of the violation to the operator.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5f5fd809826a4d26a18c1ba9286b48fc"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Use of proceeds</header><text>Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, United States Code, the Attorney General may use the proceeds from a civil penalty collected under subparagraph (A) to carry out enforcement under this section.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id118fa3d2f84a46409be6137f415a24a7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Civil penalty for failure to display notice of mechanism for removal</header><text>The Attorney General may impose a civil penalty on any covered platform operator that violates section 102(c) in an amount of not more than $5,000 for each day during which the covered platform remains in violation of that section, beginning 24 hours after the Attorney General provides notice of the violation to the operator.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idda8a91fe9d79455e9cbf289bd44dfdf2"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Civil liability for failure to make timely removal</header><subparagraph id="id867562ec84d040329bdd484534a63f1b"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If a covered platform operator violates section 102(d) with respect to a pornographic image, any person aggrieved by the violation may bring a civil action against the covered platform operator in an appropriate district court of the United States for damages in an amount equal to the greater of—</text><clause id="id17b2694b255e4273b95be9f690c90c6f"><enum>(i)</enum><text>$10,000 for each day during which the pornographic image remains on the covered platform in violation of that section, calculated on a per-day and per-image basis; or</text></clause><clause id="idc0dc685ee9d048b69fbb18f8f25c12b6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>actual damages.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb798ace4438b4d718f6b7cf6da788d96"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Good faith exception</header><clause id="id2387f4a096e94a9ba3da0e4d918e5cd2"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A covered platform operator shall not be liable under subparagraph (A) for a violation of section 102(d) if, in allowing the upload of a pornographic image to the covered platform, the operator reasonably relied on verification materials, in accordance with section 101(b)(3), that were later found to be fraudulent, provided that the operator removes the pornographic image not later than 24 hours after discovering that the verification materials are fraudulent.</text></clause><clause id="id1f9ab672a1c34560b151d810c262a309"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Failure to remove</header><text>If a covered platform operator fails to remove a pornographic image within 24 hours of discovering that the verification materials are fraudulent, as described in clause (i), damages under subparagraph (A)(i) shall be calculated with respect to each day on or after the date on which that 24-hour period expires.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id56b83ad27ee94c3c89dd7dbc130a281b"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Civil liability for failure to block re-uploads</header><text>If a covered platform operator violates section 102(e) with respect to a pornographic image, any person aggrieved by the violation may bring a civil action against the covered platform operator in an appropriate district court of the United States for damages in an amount equal to the greater of—</text><subparagraph id="id4966fdd0c37e4d749864c3a1795d854b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$10,000 for each day during which the pornographic image remains on the covered platform in violation of that section; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2a631d632b1b479e8cccc2257dd9a2d6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>actual damages.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd75c4c3405414789a90a80e3d37179b5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Civil liability for violation of user obligations</header><text>If a user of a covered platform violates section 103 with respect to a pornographic image, any person aggrieved by the violation may bring a civil action against the user in an appropriate district court of the United States for damages in an amount equal to the greater of—</text><paragraph id="idb324620d2b9b44f389e9d511bccb2820"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$10,000 for each day during which the pornographic image remains on the covered platform in violation of that section, calculated on a per-day and per-image basis; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd3bf9a48c2394fffb94b8a801a204244"><enum>(2)</enum><text>actual damages.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4ac0861c5cc14e6683f8b8de1ce83e4a"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Relation to Communications Decency Act</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/47/230">47 U.S.C. 230</external-xref>).</text></subsection></section><section id="idcae5b9fea6e84f098d0e95067da5ba4a"><enum>202.</enum><header>Criminal prohibition on nonconsensual distribution of intimate visual depictions</header><subsection id="id2e5b2822449248a68d6565f01daf809b"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/18/88">Chapter 88</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id90bd7c7aea4d4897aa455df947f5b9ae"><section section-type="section-one" id="id2b24866357f74f7b80d9729d57bcf99c"><enum>1802.</enum><header>Nonconsensual distribution of intimate visual depictions</header><subsection id="idf09f53ff3c8b499a9f04c56c1d76c612"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="iddbf2a8820bd4477f9bb0512aa50f8c3d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Information content provider</header><text>The term <term>information content provider</term> has the meaning given the term in section 230(f) of the Communications Act of 1934 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/47/230">47 U.S.C. 230(f)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id3e49a629e3d54a488e47ba7ccfe0d713"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Interactive computer service</header><text>The term <term>interactive computer service</term> has the meaning given the term in section 230(f) of the Communications Act of 1934 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/47/230">47 U.S.C. 230(f)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb700537e36a649bfbe2d3c7ba6493cd0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Intimate visual depiction</header><text>The term <term>intimate visual depiction</term> means any visual depiction—</text><subparagraph id="idFC6A5BBC79884B7985F14313E715D2B0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>of an individual who is reasonably identifiable from the visual depiction itself or information displayed in connection with the visual depiction, including through—</text><clause id="id71E55389553746A0AD4FDD9D11389BB2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>facial recognition;</text></clause><clause id="id84D2E3441C3249F5928D26674DE58880"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an identifying marking on the individual, including a birthmark or piercing;</text></clause><clause id="id88EDD9E159A24D08AE8429550A2811AA"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>an identifying feature of the background of the visual depiction;</text></clause><clause id="idE1AF83D21ACB46BBBFE37CDE3C2F4C3E"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>voice matching; or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBA7B6BF250FD4FA5BBAA16DCA0B3BE60"><enum>(v)</enum><text>written confirmation from an individual who is responsible, in whole or in part, for the creation or development of the visual depiction; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFDA678EE4C6C472788AF6BF288495F36"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in which—</text><clause id="id343C332321474A55B3B1084112C6A4F4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the individual depicted is engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB954B36AA403402AA7CDC185E0F50465"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the naked genitals, anus, pubic area, or post-pubescent female nipple of the individual depicted are visible and are depicted with the objective intent to arouse, titillate, or gratify the sexual desires of a person.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idc125102b944647fa9b92da0aa8bcefce"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Sexually explicit conduct</header><text>The term <term>sexually explicit conduct</term> has the meaning given that term in section 2256(2)(A).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd0cd08fc661149bcaff82f25714f9d31"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Visual depiction</header><text>The term <term>visual depiction</term> means a photograph, film, video, or modified photograph, film, or video, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb807c401049a4ac9a08813b291154580"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Offense</header><text>Except as provided in subsection (d), it shall be unlawful for any information content provider to knowingly use any interactive computer service to publish an intimate visual depiction of an individual with knowledge of or reckless disregard for—</text><paragraph id="idd7886401495345e6b64402953c2ff446"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the lack of consent of the individual to the publication; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf1135b8c8e9748b79a24ad76ffd057f8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the reasonable expectation of the individual that the depiction would not be published through an interactive computer service without the individual’s consent.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id96ce5d7ae39c4a9f8bdf5b4d168a8bf0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Penalty</header><text>Any person who violates subsection (b) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.</text></subsection><subsection id="idbc826ea48d13467eb92f2fbfdc41e370"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><paragraph id="id61b2eb8610a546bfa4c44aae301b273d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Law enforcement, lawful reporting, and other legal proceedings</header><text>Subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph id="idaff71037d6c54ce5ba1350e11bfc30fc"><enum>(A)</enum><text>does not prohibit any lawful law enforcement, correctional, or intelligence activity;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd5ab21c6a9b34b0890d4851ee3561b89"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall not apply to an individual acting in good faith to report unlawful activity or in pursuance of a legal or other lawful obligation; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id282e978f846a4c5eb664fbe2ab5ba8aa"><enum>(C)</enum><text>shall not apply to a document production or filing associated with a legal proceeding.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idfd17f61e09aa4681aff933f1d87565d8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this subsection shall affect the liability protection provided under section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/47/230">47 U.S.C. 230</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3ef7bee86ddf432886d205892c9144a3"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Venue and extraterritoriality</header><paragraph id="id25611e7fbf10410fb3c23af8db5477d6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Venue</header><text>A prosecution under this section may be brought in a district in which—</text><subparagraph id="ida7eb2b7ece5a468397165cfa8a629c71"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the defendant or the depicted individual resides; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id850fbafb1aa6438abccf92ca508e4f6f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the intimate visual depiction is distributed or made available.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1bf6258291ce440c879dfab287c5d81c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Extraterritoriality</header><text>There is extraterritorial Federal jurisdiction over an offense under this section if the defendant or the depicted individual is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="id0a3b225339de460e8cf78790156d5fa7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections for <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/18/88">chapter 88</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id096DF6174C73481D98106B11A2B03292"><toc><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">1802. Nonconsensual distribution of intimate visual depictions.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section>