Bill · S. 5129· Senate(119-S-5129)
PROTECT Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 7/23/2026
- Last activity
- 7/23/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Mike Lee
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The PROTECT Act of 2026 aims to prevent the distribution of intimate visual depictions without consent. It requires "covered platforms" to verify the identity and age of any user uploading pornographic images. Additionally, platforms must verify that every person appearing in such images is at least 18 years old and has provided explicit written consent for both the sex acts and the specific distribution of the image. The bill establishes strict verification requirements using government-issued identification and Attorney General-approved consent forms. Failure to comply can result in significant civil penalties for platforms and criminal penalties for violators.
Yes· 3 of 6
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?+7
The bill strengthens individual control over the distribution of sensitive personal imagery through required explicit consent.
Does this give people more control over their personal data?+7
The bill implements strict identity verification and consent requirements to protect users' intimate digital content.
Would women be better off under this?+6
The bill provides stronger protections against the unauthorized distribution of intimate images, a common form of gender-based abuse.
The opposite
Would business owners be better off under this?-5
The bill imposes significant administrative burdens and heavy civil penalties on online platforms.
Does this shorten or soften prison sentences?-3
The bill establishes new criminal penalties, including prison sentences of up to 10 years for subsequent violations.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection of Consent: The bill requires that every individual appearing in a pornographic image provide explicit written evidence of consent for both the specific sex acts and the distribution of that specific image (Section 2(a)(2)(B)).
-
Age Verification: Platforms must verify that users are at least 18 years old and that every participant in a pornographic image was at least 18 years of age at the time of creation (Section 2(a)(2)(A)).
-
Prevention of Reuploads: The act amends existing law to require the prevention of the reupload of certain content (Section 2(b)).
-
Right to Withdraw: The required consent forms must include a statement explaining that an individual has the right to withdraw their consent at any time (Section 2(a)(2)(C)(i)(VII)).
-
Legal Recourse for Victims: Aggrieved persons may bring civil actions against platforms that fail to verify participants or users, or against users who upload images without consent (Section 2(d)(1) and (2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Burden of Verification for Users: Individuals appearing in pornographic images must provide a consent form and at least one form of valid identification issued by a government agency, containing their name, date of birth, signature, and photograph (Section 2(a)(2)(C)(i) and (ii)).
-
Strict Consent Requirements: Consent for a sex act does not constitute consent for the distribution of the image, requiring users to undergo a multi-step verification process for every specific image (Section 2(a)(2)(B)).
-
Significant Financial Penalties: Platforms face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day, per image, for failing to verify users (Section 2(d)(1)(A)).
-
Criminal Liability: Violators of the act may face imprisonment for up to 5 years for an initial violation, or between 2 and 10 years for subsequent violations (Section 2(e)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Privacy Rights+7Improves Government Transparency+2
- Education And Technology
- Improves Data Privacy+7
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Women+6Good For Young Adults+4Good For Business Owners-5
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Criminal Sentencing Reform-3
- 7/23/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in Senate