Today, Rep. Nancy Mace introduced a bill aimed at combating the crime of voyeurism. The bill has been cosponsored by Rep. Tom Tiffany (WI-07).
The bill, titled the "Stop Victimizers and Offenders from Yielding Explicit Unconsented Recordings Surreptitiously Act of 2024," or the "Stop VOYEURS Act of 2024," seeks to expand the very limited scope of the prohibition against video voyeurism under title 18, United States Code.
Voyeurism, or the act of recording by video or photo of individuals without their consent in deeply private or intimate settings, is a violation of privacy and can have devastating consequences for victims. This proposed legislation seeks to address this issue by strengthening existing laws and enhancing penalties for offenders. Currently Title 18 lists voyeurism as a crime only in certain maritime jurisdictions and territories.
The key provision of the bill, outlined in Section 2, expands the prohibition against video and photo voyeurism by amending Section 1801 of title 18, United States Code. This includes increasing the maximum imprisonment term for offenders from one year to five years, providing a stronger deterrent against this reprehensible behavior.
"Voyeurism is a violation of basic human rights and must be addressed with urgency," said Rep. Mace. "This legislation sends a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated, and perpetrators will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
