The PROTECT Act would require websites that allow sexually explicit material to obtain verified consent forms from individuals uploading content or appearing in uploaded content, and would also require websites to remove images uploaded without consent.
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Age and Identity Verification: All users uploading sexually explicit material must provide valid government-issued identification to verify their age and identity.
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Consent Forms: All individuals appearing in sexually explicit material must complete and sign a consent form prior to the content being uploaded.
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Content Removal: Upon receiving notice of non-consensual content, the website will remove the content within 24 hours.
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User Reporting: Users can report any suspected non-consensual content to the website for review and removal.
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Penalties: Failure to comply with these terms and conditions will result in a $10,000 civil penalty per violation.
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User Agreement: By using this website, you agree to abide by these terms and conditions.
These terms and conditions aim to protect individuals from having their sexually explicit images shared without their consent and hold websites accountable for ensuring that all content is uploaded with consent and features individuals of legal age.
Why is this important and who does it help?
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Protecting victims: Non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit material can have devastating consequences for victims, including emotional trauma, damage to reputation, and even physical harm. This legislation would help protect victims by requiring websites to obtain consent before allowing sexually explicit material to be uploaded and removing any non-consensual content promptly.
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Holding websites accountable: The internet has created new avenues for the distribution of sexually explicit material, and websites have a responsibility to ensure that their platforms are not used to harm individuals. This legislation would hold websites accountable for ensuring that all sexually explicit material uploaded to their platforms is consensual and features individuals of legal age.
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Promoting online safety: This legislation would promote online safety by discouraging individuals from sharing sexually explicit material without consent, and by providing a mechanism for victims to report and have non-consensual content removed.
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Supporting victims’ rights: Victims of non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit material often face barriers in seeking justice, such as difficulty in identifying perpetrators and a lack of legal recourse.