Sponsors (2)
The bill expands federal jurisdiction and penalties to better protect victims and enable cross-border prosecution of video voyeurism, at the cost of broader federal criminalization that raises risks of harsher penalties for defendants, greater legal exposure for businesses, and added strain on federal courts and prosecutors.
Victims of video voyeurism (including especially vulnerable individuals) gain broader federal protection because more voyeuristic conduct falls under federal jurisdiction (interstate travel, communications, payments, equipment, commerce).
Federal prosecutors and courts can more easily pursue cross-border and online voyeurism cases, producing more consistent enforcement across states and platforms.
Offenders face stronger deterrence because the maximum federal prison term for the covered voyeurism offense increases from 1 year to 5 years.
Defendants previously prosecuted only under state law (and their families) face a higher risk of harsher federal penalties, increasing incarceration and collateral consequences.
Private individuals and small businesses (e.g., device sellers, payment processors, tech firms) could face federal investigations when equipment, payments, or communications cross state lines, raising compliance and legal risks.
More behavior may be charged federally, increasing caseloads for the Department of Justice and federal courts and potentially diverting resources from other federal priorities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Broadens federal jurisdiction for video voyeurism tied to interstate commerce or travel and raises the maximum imprisonment from one to five years.
Introduced February 11, 2025 by Nancy Mace · Last progress February 11, 2025
Expands federal coverage of video voyeurism crimes and increases the maximum prison term for those convictions. The change broadens federal jurisdiction to include many acts that cross or affect interstate or foreign commerce (for example, use of the internet, mail, travel, or equipment that has moved across state lines) and raises the maximum penalty from one year to five years in prison.