The PROTECT Act (Preventing Rampant Online Technological Exploitation and Criminal Trafficking Act of 2024) requires pornographic websites to verify the age and identity of users who upload content, as well as verify that all individuals appearing in pornographic images are at least 18 years old and have provided explicit written consent for both the specific sexual acts depicted and the distribution of each image. The bill defines "covered platforms" as any interactive computer service that hosts pornography available to the general public, and requires these platforms to establish removal procedures for images distributed without consent, responding to removal requests within 72 hours. The bill affects pornographic content distributors and users who upload such material, and includes both civil penalties—up to $10,000 per day per image for platform violations—and private rights of action allowing victims to sue for damages. Additionally, the legislation creates a new federal crime for knowingly publishing intimate visual depictions without consent, punishable by up to five years in prison, and requires the Attorney General to develop a standardized consent form within 60 days, with most provisions taking effect 90 days after enactment.
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