Increased Accountability for Nonconsensual Pornography Act of 2025
This bill, the Increased Accountability for Nonconsensual Pornography Act of 2025, would amend the civil action framework in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (15 U.S.C. 6851) related to the disclosure of intimate images. Its purpose is to strengthen accountability for nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images by broadening who can bring a civil action and by increasing the potential monetary damages. Specifically, the bill adds a capacity requirement for plaintiffs (adding the word “competent” after “conscious”) and expands the class of permissible plaintiffs to include “an identifiable individual engaging in sexually explicit conduct.” It also significantly raises the statutory damages cap for these civil actions from $150,000 to $500,000. The bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Mace on March 26, 2025 and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Key Points
- 1Adds “competent” after “conscious” in the list of requirements for who may bring a civil action, refining plaintiff eligibility.
- 2Expands the category of eligible plaintiffs to include “an identifiable individual engaging in sexually explicit conduct” (added at the end of the relevant list).
- 3Increases the damages cap for these civil actions from $150,000 to $500,000.
- 4The changes are framed as amendments to 15 U.S.C. 6851 (Section 1309 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022).
- 5The bill is titled to signal stronger accountability for nonconsensual pornography and to deter and remedy the harms caused by disclosing intimate images without consent.