Law / United States / 
North Carolina
HB 805, Prevent Sexual Exploitation of Women and Minors Act
N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 66, art. 51A, sections 66-505 to 66-510 (Session Law 2025-84)
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What follows is LexLint's own research summary of this law, not legal advice.
In force 10 months, effective 1 December 2025.
An adult content age verification (AV) rule binding private bodies.
As of 2 September 2026.
What this law does
Drafted with AI from the cited sources under the direction of UnGovr staff. UnGovr holds editorial responsibility for this page.
Operators of websites and apps that publish pornographic images must verify, before publication, that every individual depicted was at least 18 when the image was created and gave explicit written consent to each act and to distribution, backed by a signed consent form and matching government-issued identification.
Operators must display removal instructions, remove images within 72 hours of a request from a depicted individual or law enforcement, and block removed images from re-publication; this regulates verification of people appearing in content rather than website visitors. The act was enacted over the Governor's veto on July 29, 2025.
If you get it wrong
Criminal exposureNo
Private right of actionYes
Penalties
Attorney General civil penalties up to $10,000 per day per image after notice; private civil actions for $10,000 per day per image or actual damages, plus attorney fees.
Penalty structure
Attorney General civil penalty under G.S. 66-509(b)-(c): up to $10,000 per day per image against an online entity operator that violates the core publication duty (G.S. 66-506) or the removal duty (G.S. 66-507(b)); G.S. 66-509(d) sets a lower cap of up to $5,000 per day for a violation of the removal-instructions duty (G.S. 66-507(c)). Each penalty accrues on a per day and per image basis beginning 24 hours after the Attorney General gives notice, and proceeds are remitted to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund.
- Rule
- Per violation only
- As of
- 2 September 2026
- Currency
- USD
- Per violation unit
- Day
- Per violation amount
- 10,000
Over one month of continuous breach, USD 304,400.
Statutory damages
Available to an eligible person (the individual depicted, or an authorized representative) in a private civil action against the operator (G.S. 66-509(g)) or against a user of the online entity who violates the Article (G.S. 66-509(h)): $10,000 for each day a pornographic image remains on the online entity in violation, calculated on a per day and per image basis, or actual damages, whichever is greater. A prevailing eligible person is also awarded attorney fees.
- As of
- 2 September 2026
- Currency
- USD
- Per person minimum
- 10,000
Who enforces it
Enforcement body
North Carolina Attorney General, plus private civil actions by depicted individuals or their representatives
What it reaches
Age threshold
18
Covered services
Websites and mobile apps that publish or distribute pornographic images
Obligation class
Age verification, Consent, Disclosure
Verification methods
Gov ID
When LexLint raises it
publishes_adult_content
Read the law
Every line above is drawn from the primary source linked here, read on the date shown. This is a research summary, not legal advice.