Klobuchar sponsoring federal SHIELD Act

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, and John Cornyn, a Texas Republican. have introduced bipartisan legislation to take on the online exploitation of explicit, private images. 

The Stopping Harmful Image Exploitation and Limiting Distribution (SHIELD) Act would provide federal law enforcement with the tools they need to crack down on serious privacy violations. The bill establishes federal criminal liability for people who distribute others’ private or explicit images online, or threaten to do so, without consent. 

The bill also fills in existing gaps in federal law so that prosecutors can hold all those who exploit children accountable. Current state laws offer incomplete and inconsistent protection for victims of image exploitation. 

Last year, the SHIELD Act passed the Senate unanimously. Companion legislation in the House of Representatives is led by Representatives Jeff Van Drew, New Jersey Republican, and Madeleine Dean, Pennsylvania Democrat.