Atlantic County Times

Congressman Van Drew, along with five colleagues, has introduced the Stopping Harmful Image Exploitation and Limiting Distribution (SHIELD) Act. This legislation aims to tackle the increasing issue of online exploitation by strengthening existing laws to hold accountable those who engage in image-based attacks on both children and adults.

"In today's world, we are seeing children and vulnerable adults being exploited and extorted in ways we have never seen before," stated Congressman Van Drew. He emphasized that current laws lag behind technological advancements, allowing offenders to evade consequences. The SHIELD Act seeks to address these gaps.

Congresswoman Dean expressed her support, noting that sharing private images without consent causes significant harm. "It should be prosecuted," she said. Dean highlighted the need for law enforcement to have adequate tools for prosecuting such cases and thanked Van Drew for his partnership in this bipartisan effort.

Congresswoman Nancy Mace shared a personal perspective, stating, "As a parent and someone who personally knows people who have been devastated by image-based exploitation, this issue hits close to home." She underscored the bill's importance in providing protection for victims and holding perpetrators accountable.

Congressman Nathaniel Moran voiced his backing of the SHIELD Act, citing its role in strengthening laws against 'sextortion' and non-consensual image exploitation. "This legislation ensures prosecutors have the best tools to address the most serious privacy violations," he remarked.

Highlighting the profound harm caused by media exploitation for blackmail, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick called it a "deeply disturbing threat" requiring immediate action. He affirmed that through the SHIELD Act, they aim to provide justice for victims.

The SHIELD Act has received endorsements from various organizations including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), RAINN, and others committed to combating sexual exploitation.