This bill, known as the HONOR Act, significantly expands the prohibitions within the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) regarding the nonconsensual sharing of intimate visual images. It amends Article 117a to criminalize the knowing broadcast, distribution, or publication of such images without consent. The legislation specifically addresses both authentic intimate visual depictions and digitally forged images, aiming to protect service members from various forms of online harm. For non-minor individuals, the bill prohibits sharing authentic intimate depictions if they were obtained with a reasonable expectation of privacy, were not voluntarily exposed in public, are not matters of public concern, and are intended to cause or actually cause harm. Similarly, it criminalizes the nonconsensual sharing of digital forgeries of non-minors under comparable conditions of harm. For minors, the bill prohibits sharing both authentic intimate depictions and digital forgeries if done with intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or to arouse sexual desire. The bill defines "digital forgery" as any intimate visual depiction created through software, artificial intelligence, or other technological means that is indistinguishable from an authentic image. It also clarifies that consent to the creation of an image or its disclosure to one person does not imply consent for further distribution. Several exceptions are provided, including disclosures for law enforcement, intelligence activities, legal proceedings, medical purposes, or when reporting unlawful content.
This bill, known as the HONOR Act, significantly expands the prohibitions within the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) regarding the nonconsensual sharing of intimate visual images. It amends Article 117a to criminalize the knowing broadcast, distribution, or publication of such images without consent. The legislation specifically addresses both authentic intimate visual depictions and digitally forged images, aiming to protect service members from various forms of online harm. For non-minor individuals, the bill prohibits sharing authentic intimate depictions if they were obtained with a reasonable expectation of privacy, were not voluntarily exposed in public, are not matters of public concern, and are intended to cause or actually cause harm. Similarly, it criminalizes the nonconsensual sharing of digital forgeries of non-minors under comparable conditions of harm. For minors, the bill prohibits sharing both authentic intimate depictions and digital forgeries if done with intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or to arouse sexual desire. The bill defines "digital forgery" as any intimate visual depiction created through software, artificial intelligence, or other technological means that is indistinguishable from an authentic image. It also clarifies that consent to the creation of an image or its disclosure to one person does not imply consent for further distribution. Several exceptions are provided, including disclosures for law enforcement, intelligence activities, legal proceedings, medical purposes, or when reporting unlawful content.