SHIELD Act of 2025

Summary

Creates a new federal crime for intentionally creating, distributing, or advertising intimate visual images of another person without that person’s consent. The measure defines covered images and covered communications services, clarifies that investigatory, correctional, and intelligence activities are exempt, and makes related forfeiture rules available where relevant.

• Makes it a federal crime to intentionally create, distribute, or advertise intimate images of an adult without consent.
• Defines "intimate visual depiction" to include sexually explicit images and certain exposed nudity of recognizable adults.
• Specifies covered communications services (common carriers, electronic communication services, information services, interactive computer services).
• Creates a separate statutory offense that supplements existing federal video-voyeurism law rather than amending it.
• Preserves lawful law enforcement, correctional, and intelligence activities as exceptions.
• Applies forfeiture rules under 21 U.S.C. §853 where relevant to the offense.
• Cross-references existing federal definitions for minors and sexually explicit conduct to set scope and limits.
• Does not specify penalties or an effective date in the provided text.