# 119-s-5129: PROTECT Act of 2026

119-s-5129, PROTECT Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] (R-UT); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-13).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5129
- As of: 2026-08-13
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5129
- Congress: 119
- Title: PROTECT Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-07-23
- Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] (R-UT)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-13

## Summary

This bill would create a federal rule requiring platforms to verify the identity, age, and explicit written consent of every person shown before pornographic images are uploaded. **Mandatory identity, age, and consent verification for pornographic uploads**. - Platforms would need to verify a user's identity and that they are at least 18 before allowing pornographic uploads. They would also have to collect consent forms and at least one valid ID for every person depicted and offer a model consent form in written and electronic formats. - Performers and other people appearing in images would have to provide explicit written consent for each sex act and for distribution of the specific image. Consent forms must list names, dates of birth, signatures, the sex acts, distribution scope, duration, and a coercion-withdrawal disclosure. - Enforcement would create civil penalties and private damages of up to $10,000 per day per image or actual damages, whichever is greater. Criminal penalties would include up to 5 years in prison for initial violations and 2 to 10 years for repeat offenses. The Attorney General would set verification methods and issue a model form and rules. The bill would also add reupload prevention to the TAKE IT DOWN Act and preserves other federal and state obligations.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Which sites and images are covered: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would say which websites and apps count as covered platforms. It would define what counts as an intimate or pornographic image and explain how a person can be identified (face, marks, background, voice, or written confirmation). It would exclude broadband services and email and…
- Big fines, damages, and reupload rules: mixed, high. If enacted, people harmed by nonconsensual or improperly verified pornographic uploads could sue for the greater of $10,000 for each day each image stayed up or for actual damages, counted per image per day. The Attorney General could fine platforms up to $10,000 per day per image after 24 hours' n…
- New ID and consent rules for uploads: mixed, medium. If enacted, platforms would have to verify a user's identity and that the uploader is at least 18 before allowing pornographic uploads. Providers would also have to verify each person shown was 18 when the image was created and that each person gave explicit written consent for each sex act and for…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5653: Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026
- 119-s-4952: Protecting American Taxpayers Act
- 119-s-1801: International Nuclear Energy Act of 2025
- 119-s-1249: Drone Integration and Zoning Act
- 119-s-62: America First Act
- 119-s-4280: SAFE Act

## Sources
- [119-s-5129 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5129)

## Related
- [119-s-5653: Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5653)
- [119-s-4952: Protecting American Taxpayers Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4952)
- [119-s-1801: International Nuclear Energy Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1801)
- [119-s-1249: Drone Integration and Zoning Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1249)
- [119-s-62: America First Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-62)
- [119-s-4280: SAFE Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4280)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5129 (as of 2026-08-13).