The PROTECT Act of 2026 requires websites and online platforms that host user-generated content or pornographic material to verify the identity and age of users before allowing them to upload such content, and to obtain explicit written consent from all individuals appearing in pornographic images. The verification process must include government-issued ID checks and consent forms approved by the Attorney General that separately document consent for each sex act and for the specific distribution of the image. The legislation affects social media platforms, streaming services, and other online services that regularly publish intimate visual depictions or host user-generated content. Providers face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for each non-compliant image, while users who upload images without consent face civil liability of at least $10,000 per day and criminal penalties of up to five years imprisonment for initial violations and two to ten years for subsequent violations. The requirements take effect 90 days after enactment, with the Attorney General required to create and distribute a standard consent form within 60 days.
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