Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73not60

§917a Art. 117a. Wrongful Broadcast or Distribution of Intimate Visual Images

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— General Military Law › Part II— PERSONNEL › Chapter 47— UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE › Subchapter X— PUNITIVE ARTICLES › § 917a

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

It prohibits anyone covered by this law from knowingly and wrongfully sending out or broadcasting a private sexual image of another person when four things are true: the person in the image was at least 18 when the image was made; the person can be identified from the image or related information; the person did not clearly agree to the sharing; and the sharer knew or should have known the image was taken when the person reasonably expected privacy and that sharing it was likely to cause harm, harassment, emotional distress, financial loss, or serious damage to the person’s health, safety, work, money, reputation, or relationships. The act must also have a reasonably direct and obvious connection to a military mission or military setting. Broadcast: electronically sending an image so others can view it. Distribute: giving or sending an image to someone, including by mail or electronically. Intimate visual image: a picture showing a private area. Private area: naked or underwear-covered genitals, anus, buttocks, or female areola or nipple. Reasonable expectation of privacy: when a reasonable person would expect the private area or sexual activity not to be public. Sexually explicit conduct: actual or simulated genital, oral, or anal contact, bestiality, masturbation, or sadistic/masochistic abuse. Visual image: any photo, film, video, or digital data that can be turned into a picture, including streaming.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §917a

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Any person subject to this chapter—

(1)who knowingly and wrongfully broadcasts or distributes an intimate visual image of another person or a visual image of sexually explicit conduct involving a person who—

(A)is at least 18 years of age at the time the intimate visual image or visual image of sexually explicit conduct was created;

(B)is identifiable from the intimate visual image or visual image of sexually explicit conduct itself, or from information displayed in connection with the intimate visual image or visual image of sexually explicit conduct; and

(C)does not explicitly consent to the broadcast or distribution of the intimate visual image or visual image of sexually explicit conduct;

(2)who knows or reasonably should have known that the intimate visual image or visual image of sexually explicit conduct was made under circumstances in which the person depicted in the intimate visual image or visual image of sexually explicit conduct retained a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding any broadcast or distribution of the intimate visual image or visual image of sexually explicit conduct;

(3)who knows or reasonably should have known that the broadcast or distribution of the intimate visual image or visual image of sexually explicit conduct is likely—

(A)to cause harm, harassment, intimidation, emotional distress, or financial loss for the person depicted in the intimate visual image or visual image of sexually explicit conduct; or

(B)to harm substantially the depicted person with respect to that person’s health, safety, business, calling, career, financial condition, reputation, or personal relationships; and

(4)whose conduct, under the circumstances, had a reasonably direct and palpable connection to a military mission or military environment,

(b)In this section:

(1)The term “broadcast” means to electronically transmit a visual image with the intent that it be viewed by a person or persons.

(2)The term “distribute” means to deliver to the actual or constructive possession of another person, including transmission by mail or electronic means.

(3)The term “intimate visual image” means a visual image that depicts a private area of a person.

(4)The term “private area” means the naked or underwear-clad genitalia, anus, buttocks, or female areola or nipple.

(5)The term “reasonable expectation of privacy” means circumstances in which a reasonable person would believe that a private area of the person, or sexually explicit conduct involving the person, would not be visible to the public.

(6)The term “sexually explicit conduct” means actual or simulated genital-genital contact, oral-genital contact, anal-genital contact, or oral-anal contact, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex, bestiality, masturbation, or sadistic or masochistic abuse.

(7)The term “visual image” means the following:

(A)Any developed or undeveloped photograph, picture, film, or video.

(B)Any digital or computer image, picture, film, or video made by any means, including those transmitted by any means, including streaming media, even if not stored in a permanent format.

(C)Any digital or electronic data capable of conversion into a visual image.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 917a

Title 10 — Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60