Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§797 Publication and Sale of Photographs of Defense Installations
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 37 — ESPIONAGE AND CENSORSHIP › § 797
Summary
Thirty days after the President declares a military or naval site or piece of equipment vital, anyone who shares images of it must get permission from the commanding officer or higher unless the image is clearly censored by military authority. Violators face fines, jail up to one year, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §797
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
On and after thirty days from the date upon which the President defines any vital military or naval installation or equipment as being within the category contemplated under section 795 of this title, whoever reproduces, publishes, sells, or gives away any photograph, sketch, picture, drawing, map, or graphical representation of the vital military or naval installations or equipment so defined, without first obtaining permission of the commanding officer of the military or naval post, camp, or station concerned, or higher authority, unless such photograph, sketch, picture, drawing, map, or graphical representation has clearly indicated thereon that it has been censored by the proper military or naval authority, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on section 45 and 45b, of title 50, U.S.C., 1940 ed., War and National Defense (Jan. 12, 1938, ch. 2, §§ 1, 3, 52 Stat. 3). Punishment provision of section 45 of title 50, U.S.C., 1940 ed., War and National Defense, is repeated. Words “upon conviction” were deleted as surplusage since punishment cannot be imposed until a conviction is secured. Minor changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 797
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102