POLISCOPE
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HR8457FEDERALIN_COMMITTEE
High Impact

The PROTECT Act: New Rules for Online Pornography Platforms

Original title: PROTECT Act

May 24, 2024

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Where This Stands

Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Signed

Currently IN_COMMITTEE. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

This bill would impose new compliance costs and legal liabilities on pornography platform operators, while providing individuals with a federal mechanism to force the removal of nonconsensual intimate images and seek damages.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Pornographic platform operators

Must implement new age and identity verification systems, consent tracking, and image removal procedures.

Users who upload content

Must provide proof of consent and identity to platforms and face potential civil liability for nonconsensual uploads.

Individuals depicted in pornography

Gain a federal right to request removal of nonconsensual images and the ability to sue for damages.

What changed

Current stage: IN_COMMITTEE.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

The PROTECT Act would require websites that host pornographic content to verify the age and identity of users and obtain explicit written consent from every person depicted in the content. It also creates a legal process for individuals to request the removal of nonconsensual images and establishes both civil and criminal penalties for violations.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Why It Matters

This bill would impose new compliance costs and legal liabilities on pornography platform operators, while providing individuals with a federal mechanism to force the removal of nonconsensual intimate images and seek damages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if a platform operator relies on fake verification documents?
The operator is not liable for civil damages if they reasonably relied on verification materials and remove the image within 24 hours of discovering the fraud.
Who can request the removal of an image?
An eligible person includes the individual depicted, their authorized representative, or law enforcement acting under a court order.
Does this bill change Section 230 protections?
The bill explicitly states that nothing in the civil enforcement or criminal prohibition sections shall be construed to affect or limit the liability protections provided under Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Lobbying Activity

A.O. Smith Corporation

$260,000

2026

TAXATION/INTERNAL REVENUE CODEENERGY/NUCLEARTRADE (DOMESTIC/FOREIGN)NATURAL RESOURCES

H.R. 1 One Big Beautiful Bill Act

ADOBE INC

$450,000

2026

COMPUTER INDUSTRYDEFENSEGOVERNMENT ISSUESCOPYRIGHT/PATENT/TRADEMARK

IT Modernization and Digital Service delivery issues; Digital Service Delivery IT Acquisition, and Content Authenticity and digital provenance issues; Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI); artificial intelligence; content provenance; privacy; technology in and competition issues; AI innovation and the economy; Content provenance and AI Labelling; IT modernization; Support for H.R. 9112 - CREATOR Act

ACADIA PHARMACEUTICALS

$700,000

2026

HEALTH ISSUESMEDICARE/MEDICAIDTAXATION/INTERNAL REVENUE CODETRADE (DOMESTIC/FOREIGN)

Implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, ORPHAN Cures Act (HR 946, S 1862), Mikaela Naylon Give Kids A Chance Act (HR 1262), Give Kids A Chance Act (S 932), Cameron's Law (HR 1414), Kids Access to Care Act (Accelerating HR 1509, S 752), Small Biotech Innovations Act (HR 3731, S 1930), EPIC Act (HR 1492, S 832), One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR 1), BINSA Act, H.R. 9102, Issues related to protecting patient access to medicines in Medicare and Medicaid, Issues related to access to medicines for Parkinson's disease patients, Issues related to Antipsychotic use in Medicare, Issues related to most-favored-nation policies.

340B Health

$240,000

2026

PHARMACY

The SECURE 340B Act (H.R. 9599); The Tax-Exempt Hospital Transparency Act (H.R.9504); 340B PATIENTS Act (H.R. 4581/S.2372); Community Health Center Drug Pricing Protection Act (H.R. 7391); 2027 OPPS Proposed Rule; Information Collection Request Title: 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program Application, Implementation, and Evaluation, OMB Number 0906-NEW; Manufacturer Demand for Access to in-House Pharmacy Claims Data; Lilly 340B Drug Pricing Denial; HRSA Rebate Model Pilot pending regulation; Pending Senate "Gang of Six" draft 340B legislation; FY27 Appropriations legislation; Pending introduction of updated and expanded Community Health Center Drug Pricing Protection Act.

AARP

$4,110,000

2026

HEALTH ISSUESMEDICARE/MEDICAIDLAW ENFORCEMENT/CRIME/CRIMINAL JUSTICEPHARMACY

P.L. 119-21, One Big Beautiful Bill Act H.R. 8867, Planning for Long-term Aging Needs (PLAN) Act H.R. 5861, Legacy Act of 2025 H.R. 9393, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. H.R. 9396, the Prior Authorization Accountability Act. S. 4916, the Aging with Artificial Intelligence Act. H.R. 8100, Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act. S. 3886, Nurses Belong in Nursing Homes Act. H.R. 6766/S. 3492, the Essential Caregivers Act of 2025. H.R. 7966/S. 4118, Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement (Hospice CARE) Act. S. 2120, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 H.R. 5575, the Firefighters Assisting Seniors to Emergency Response (FASTER) Act of 2025. H.R. 3954/S. 4641, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act. H.R.5554/S.2831, Stand Strong for Medicare Act. S. 3439/H.R. 6735, Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act and efforts related to the bill S. 1227/H.R. 2491, Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act S. 668/H.R. 3183, Supporting Access to Falls Education and Prevention and Strengthening Training Efforts and Promoting Safety Initiatives (SAFE STEPS) for Veterans Act of 2025 CMS-1851-P, Hospice Proposed rule. CMS-1843-P, Skilled Nursing Facility Proposed rule. CMS-1844-P, Home Health Proposed rule. No bill number. Health care transparency. No bill number. Discussed use of artificial intelligence and health data technology. No bill number. Discussed health-related policies and activities around the fall respiratory virus season. No bill number. Discussed health insurance affordability proposals. No bill number. Discussed Nursing Home staffing standards, safety, and quality. No bill number. Discussed Nursing home transparency and ownership requirements. No bill number. Discussed home health, hospice, and long-term care. No bill number. Discussed falls prevention. No bill number. Discussed social isolation. No bill number. Discussed HUD Assisted Living Requirements No bill number. Discussed family caregiving. No bill number. Discussed AARP paper on Medicare Caregiver Training Services. No bill number. Discussed Medicaid community engagement interim final rule, including the family caregiver exemption. No bill number. Discussed the paid direct care workforce in long-term care. No bill number. Discussed the unaffordability of long-term care. No bill number. Discussed Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program and Medicaid HCBS spousal impoverishment protections. No bill number. Discussed Medicaid fraud and family caregivers, Medicaid self-direction programs. No bill number. Discussed sandwich generation family caregiver hearing and submitted a statement for the record discussing family caregivers and sandwich generation caregivers, programs that support them, AARP caregiving resources, and federal policies to support sandwich generation caregivers and caregivers more broadly. No bill number. Discussed long-term care. No bill number. CMS-2453-NC; Medicaid Program; 2028 Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Quality Measure Set Submitted comments No bill number. Discussed expanding access to home care. No bill number. Discussed the increasing cost of home care No bill number. Discussed HSA use for telehealth chronic care management services/subscriptions. No bill number. Discussed artificial intelligence and technology

1607 STRATEGIES, LLC

on behalf of Travelers Companies, Inc. and subsidiaries

2026

INSURANCEFINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS/INVESTMENTS/SECTORTSLAW ENFORCEMENT/CRIME/CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Issues related to the property and casualty insurance industry. Issues related to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program. H.R. 7128, TRIA Program Reauthorization Act of 2026, all provisions.

162 STRATEGIES

on behalf of National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives

2026

GOVERNMENT ISSUES

Issues related to Social Security Administration disability claims due process (generally, no specific legislation); Issues related to Social Security Administration customer service (generally, no specific legislation); Issues related to Social Security Administration engagement with appointed representatives on disability claims (generally, no specific legislation); Issues related to Health and Human Services interpretation of standards for digital health information exchange (generally, no specific legislation); SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act (S 1234 and HR 2540); SSI Restoration Act (S 4001 and HR 7828); Ticket to Work Advertisement Act (HR 7253); Phased-in SSDI during waiting period for terminally ill claimants (S 4255); Stop the Wait Act (HR 930); We Can't Wait Act (S 3924); Immediate Access for the Terminally Ill Act (S 3648 and HR 7104); Social Security Enhancement and Protection Act (HR 3517); Social Security Overpayment Relief Act (HR 2142); Social Security Expansion Act (S 770 and HR 1700)

1607 STRATEGIES, LLC

on behalf of American Fintech Council

2026

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS/INVESTMENTS/SEC

Issues related to fintech and banks-as-a-service, earned wage access, fintech legislation, and online lending. Issues related to earned wage access. H.R.940, FAIR Exams Act, all provisions. H.R. 4437, Supervisory Modifications for Appropriate Risk-based Testing Act of 2025 (SMART Act of 2025), all provisions. H.R. 4478, Tailored Regulatory Updates for Supervisory Testing Act of 2025 (TRUST Act of 2025), all provisions.

BARNES & THORNBURG, LLP

on behalf of SUPERIOR AIR GROUND AMBULANCE SERVICE, INC.

Protect Democracy United (formerly known as UNITED TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY)

$70,000

2026

GOVERNMENT ISSUES

In support of the No Political Enemies Act to prevent executive punishing of individuals or organizations for constitutionally protected speech, belies, viewpoints, or political participation. In support of amending DHS appropriation riders to improve oversight and accountability on Department of Homeland security surveillance. In opposition to the SAVE America Act and requiring unnecessary barriers to voting. In support of increasing federal election security funding and identifying risks to election security and confidence posed by executive orders. In support of encouraging congressional members to uphold their legal duty to seat future lawfully elected members of Congress from the midterm elections. In support of reforms that strengthening the independence of the Judge Advocate General Corps through reforms of notification to Congress on before their termination. In support of reforms to protect independent legal advice within DoD and protect the non-political nature of the armed forces. In support of reforming the national emergencies framework to prevent executive abuses. Advocating in support of reforms that would prevent the executive branch from harming First Amendment rights of broadcasters.

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Shift toward platform accountability

The bill represents a significant move to shift the burden of verifying consent and age from the user to the platform operator.

Connected Entities

organizationNational Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)A key organization tracking and reporting CSAM.Map →
organizationCanadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P)Administers Project Arachnid, a platform for detecting CSAM.Map →
otherCyberTiplineNCMEC's online reporting system for CSAM.Map →
organizationOnlyFansA popular pornography website.Map →
organizationNew York TimesCited for reporting on the exponential increase in CSAM.Map →
personMrs. LunaThe bill's primary sponsor in the House of Representatives.Map →
organizationYouPornA popular pornography website.Map →
organizationPornhubA popular pornography website.Map →
organizationJudiciary CommitteeThe committee responsible for reviewing the bill.Map →
organizationEnergy and Commerce CommitteeThe committee responsible for reviewing the bill.Map →
otherProject ArachnidA web platform for detecting CSAM.Map →
otherDaily (podcast)A New York Times podcast discussing CSAM trends.Map →
organizationFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)Prioritizes investigating CSAM involving infants and toddlers.Map →
organizationXVideosA popular pornography website.Map →

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy80
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment40
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz60
    Current news / social attention level

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