Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-110

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

Title 10 › Subtitle A — General Military Law › PART II — PERSONNEL › CHAPTER 47 — UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE › SUBCHAPTER X — PUNITIVE ARTICLES › § 917a

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Makes it a crime for someone under military law to knowingly and wrongfully share or broadcast an intimate or sexually explicit image of another person and be punished by court-martial. The person in the image must have been at least 18 years of age when the image was made, must be identifiable from the image or from information shown with it, and must not have given explicit permission. The sharer must have known or should have known the image was taken when the person had a reasonable expectation of privacy, and must have known or should have known that sharing it was likely to cause harm, harassment, emotional distress, financial loss, or serious harm to the person’s health, safety, job, money, reputation, or relationships. The act must also have a clear connection to a military mission or military setting. Definitions (one line each): Broadcast — sending a visual image electronically so others can view it. Distribute — giving an image to someone, including by mail or electronic means. Intimate visual image — a picture showing a private body area. Private area — naked or underwear-covered genitalia, anus, buttocks, or a female areola or nipple. Reasonable expectation of privacy — a situation where a normal person would expect the image or act not to be public. Sexually explicit conduct — actual or simulated sexual contact or related acts. Visual image — photos, videos, digital images, or data that can be turned into an image.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §917a

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Prohibition.—

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,

is guilty of wrongful distribution of intimate visual images or visual images of sexually explicit conduct and shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

(b)Definitions.—

In this section: (1) Broadcast.—

(2)Distribute.—

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

(3)Intimate visual image.—

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

(4)Private area.—

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

(5)Reasonable expectation of privacy.—

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)Sexually explicit conduct.—

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)Visual image.—

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

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110