Bill > HR1218

This bill, known as the SHIELD Act of 2025, establishes federal criminal penalties for knowingly distributing private intimate visual depictions without consent, with specific provisions targeting both adult and minor victims. The legislation defines "intimate visual depictions" as images of individuals over 18 who are recognizably engaging in sexually explicit conduct or showing unclothed private body parts, and creates legal consequences for distributing such images without the subject's consent and with the intent to cause harm. The bill makes it unlawful to mail or distribute such images through interstate or foreign commerce if the images were obtained under circumstances where the individual had a reasonable expectation of privacy, were not voluntarily exposed in public, and are not a matter of public concern. For violations involving images of nude minors, the penalties are more severe, with potential fines and imprisonment up to 3 years, while adult intimate image violations carry potential fines and up to 2 years imprisonment. The law includes exceptions for law enforcement, lawful reporting, legal proceedings, and service providers, and provides for forfeiture of distributed materials and potential restitution. Importantly, the bill establishes extraterritorial jurisdiction if either the defendant or the depicted individual is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and it does not limit the application of other existing laws related to similar offenses.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1218/all-info