Stop VOYEURS Act of 2025
The Stop VOYEURS Act of 2025 would expand federal criminal reach and penalties for video voyeurism. Specifically, it amends 18 U.S.C. § 1801 to remove the single-location focus on the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States and replace it with a broader set of “circumstances described” in a new subsection. When any of those circumstances apply, the offense would carry a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison (up from the prior limit of up to one year). The new subsection details seven conditions related to interstate or foreign commerce, communications, payments, equipment, and jurisdiction, which would determine when the expanded prohibition applies. In short, the bill aims to reach additional cases of video voyeurism that involve cross-state or cross-border activity or influence, and it imposes longer potential prison terms for those covered cases.
Key Points
- 1Expands the prohibition beyond the current special maritime and territorial jurisdiction to include a broader set of circumstances described in a new subsection (d).
- 2Increases the maximum penalties for qualifying offenses from up to 1 year to up to 5 years in prison.
- 3Creates a new subsection (d), “Circumstance Described,” outlining seven conditions that trigger the expanded federal reach.
- 4The seven conditions cover aspects of interstate/foreign commerce, use of channels or instrumentalities of interstate commerce, payments connected to the conduct, communications related to the conduct, equipment that has traveled in interstate commerce, and the conduct occurring within U.S. territories or otherwise affecting interstate/foreign commerce.
- 5The bill retains a federal framework for prosecuting video voyeurism with nationwide reach in cases tied to interstate or cross-border activities or consequences.