NC House bill would require pornography sites to maintain consent forms

On Monday, state Rep. Neal Jackson, R-Moore, introduced House Bill 805, a bipartisan bill that would require websites distributing pornography to obtain consent from any individuals depicted in a video or image on the site. 

“HB 805, the ‘Prevent the Sexual Exploitation of Women and Minors Act,’ provides an important safeguard against abuse,” Jackson told the Carolina Journal. “The law requires any website distributing pornography to keep consent forms on file for all participants in an image or video. This will ensure that participants are adults, have the capacity to consent, and are participating without coercion. The bill also provides an avenue for women who have been abused by this industry to remove nonconsensual content and pursue legal action against their abusers.” 

Jackson is sponsoring the bill in partnership with state Reps. Laura Budd, D-Mecklenburg; Sarah Stevens, R-Surry; and Jennifer Balkcom, R-Henderson. The bill requires that consent forms must be kept on file for all participants depicted in an image or video on any website that distributes pornography. 

“My fellow sponsors and I believe this is an important step in fighting human trafficking and promoting a safer internet landscape,” continued Jackson.

The bill requires age verification, ensuring the participant was not a minor when the content was created. It also requires proof of consent not only for the distribution of the image but also for each sexual act depicted and provides for the removal of images upon request.

“An online entity operator shall establish a procedure for removing a pornographic image from the online entity at the request of a person and designate one or more employees of the operator to be responsible for handling requests for removal or pornographic images,” reads the bill. 

“HB 805 builds on existing North Carolina and federal laws by strengthening verification, consent, and enforcement standards to meet the challenges of the digital age,” Balkcom told the Carolina Journal. “In a time when technology is too often misused to exploit women and minors, we are leading with strong, proactive safeguards. This bill is about protecting dignity, restoring control to victims, and holding bad actors accountable. As a mom, this is personal. We must do everything we can to keep our kids safe.”

The post NC House bill would require pornography sites to maintain consent forms first appeared on Carolina Journal.