The RESPECT Act makes it a more serious federal crime to share intimate photos or videos of someone without their permission. Right now, if someone deliberately posts nude or sexually explicit images of another person online without consent, they can face up to 2 years in prison for a first offense and 3 years for repeat offenses. This bill increases those penalties to 5 years for a first offense and 10 years for repeat offenses. For cases involving minors, the penalties jump from 18 months to 3 years for first offenses, and from 30 months to 5 years for repeat offenses.

This law targets what's commonly called "revenge porn" or non-consensual intimate image sharing—when someone maliciously distributes private sexual content to harm, embarrass, or harass another person. By significantly increasing prison time, the bill aims to deter people from committing this violation and to provide stronger justice for victims. The changes apply to violations of federal communications law, meaning these are crimes prosecuted at the federal level rather than just state level, which typically means harsher penalties and broader enforcement.