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2025-2026 Bill 5598: Dissemination of Intimate Images Without Consent - South Carolina Legislature Online
South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5598
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Guffey, T. Moore and Pope
Document Path: LC-0241AHB26.docx
Introduced in the House on April 28, 2026
Currently residing in the House Committee on
Judiciary
Summary: Dissemination of Intimate Images Without Consent
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date
Body
Action Description with journal page number
4/28/2026
House
Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 14
)
4/28/2026
House
Referred to Committee on
Judiciary
(
House Journal-page 14
)
View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
04/28/2026
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS
BY AMENDING SECTION
16-15-332
, RELATING TO DISSEMINATING INTIMATE IMAGES
WITHOUT CONSENT, SO AS TO PROVIDE PROVISIONS IDENTIFYING WHEN A DEVELOPER OR
PROVIDER OF TECHNOLOGY MAY BE HELD LIABLE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE OFFENSE.
B
e it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
S
ECTION 1.
S
ection
16-15-332
of the S.C.
Code is amended by adding:
(
G) The provisions of this section do not apply to a developer or
provider of technology solely for developing or providing a neutral, general
purpose tool that has substantial lawful uses and is not designed, marketed, or
promoted for the creation of a private image. However, the provisions of this
section are applicable to a developer or provider of technology that
unreasonably designs, markets, advertises, promotes, configures, or operates a
product or service in a manner that facilitates, enables, or encourages the
creation, alteration, or generation of an intimate image, including by doing
any of the following:
(
1) promoting the product or tool to
generate an intimate image of an identifiable individual;
(
2) providing prompts, tutorials,
demonstrations, or examples instructing users on the process to create an
intimate image of an identifiable individual;
(
3) training, fine tuning, or
configuring technology to generate an intimate image of an identifiable
individual; or
(
4) making a material contribution to
the production, alteration, or dissemination of an intimate image of an
identifiable individual. For purposes of this item, "material contribution"
means any action that meaningfully assists, enables, accelerates, optimizes, or
encourages the production of an intimate image of an identifiable individual.
(
H) A developer or provider of
technology who violates any of the provisions of subsection (G)(1) through (4),
is deemed responsible for the creation or facilitation of an intimate image of
an identifiable individual and is subject to the penalties provided in this
section. And, nothing in this section may be construed to limit civil liability
when a developer or provider of technology profits from the production or
dissemination of an intimate image of an identifiable individual.
S
ECTION
2.
The repeal or amendment by this act of any law,
whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending
actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge,
release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the
repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so
expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws
repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full
force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right,
civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as
of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties,
penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or
amended laws.
S
ECTION
3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on April 28, 2026 at 12:47 PM