Summary

Changes federal child sexual exploitation law so that a person can be prosecuted for including a minor in a sexually explicit visual depiction even if the minor did not physically take part, as long as the defendant intentionally included the minor. The bill updates criminal code definitions to treat the depiction of a minor in sexually explicit material as "engaging in" the conduct for purposes of federal child-pornography and related offenses.

• Expands the legal meaning of "engage in" for minors in sexually explicit visual depictions to include being depicted even if not a participant, when inclusion was intentional.
• Amends existing federal child sexual exploitation statutes to reflect the new definition.
• Makes it easier for prosecutors to charge defendants who intentionally include minors in explicit images or videos.
• Applies to visual depictions regardless of whether the minor actually performed the sexual act portrayed.
• Creates potential new obligations and risks for content creators, distributors, and online platforms handling visual media.
• Does not specify effective dates, funding, or implementation details in the provided text.
• Will require courts to interpret what it means to have "intentionally included" a minor in a depiction.
• Aims to strengthen protection of minors by targeting portrayals that exploit or sexualize them even without direct participation.