18 U.S.C. § 2256
Section 2256 · Definitions for chapter
Viewing 18 U.S.C. § 2256 as in effect on September 30, 1996. The text changed in 3 later editions (most recent December 7, 2018).
View current version →For the purposes of this chapter, the term—
(1) “minor” means any person under the age of eighteen years;
(2) “sexually explicit conduct” means actual or simulated—
(A) sexual intercourse, including genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex;
(B) bestiality;
(C) masturbation;
(D) sadistic or masochistic abuse; or
(E) lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of any person;
(3) “producing” means producing, directing, manufacturing, issuing, publishing, or advertising;
(4) “organization” means a person other than an individual;
(5) “visual depiction” includes undeveloped film and videotape, and data stored on computer disk or by electronic means which is capable of conversion into a visual image;
(6) “computer” has the meaning given that term in section 1030 of this title;
(7) “custody or control” includes temporary supervision over or responsibility for a minor whether legally or illegally obtained;
(8) “child pornography” means any visual depiction, including any photograph, film, video, picture, or computer or computer-generated image or picture, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means, of sexually explicit conduct, where—
(A) the production of such visual depiction involves the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct;
(B) such visual depiction is, or appears to be, of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct;
(C) such visual depiction has been created, adapted, or modified to appear that an identifiable minor is engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or
(D) such visual depiction is advertised, promoted, presented, described, or distributed in such a manner that conveys the impression that the material is or contains a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; and
(9) “identifiable minor”—
(A) means a person—
(i)(I) who was a minor at the time the visual depiction was created, adapted, or modified; or
(II) whose image as a minor was used in creating, adapting, or modifying the visual depiction; and
(ii) who is recognizable as an actual person by the person's face, likeness, or other distinguishing characteristic, such as a unique birthmark or other recognizable feature; and
(B) shall not be construed to require proof of the actual identity of the identifiable minor.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
Codification
Pub. L. 99–591 is a corrected version of Pub. L. 99–500.
Amendments
1996—Par. (5). Pub. L. 104–208, §101(a) [title I, §121[2(1)]], inserted “, and data stored on computer disk or by electronic means which is capable of conversion into a visual image” before semicolon at end.
Pars. (8), (9). Pub. L. 104–208, §101(a) [title I, §121[2(2)–(4)]], added pars. (8) and (9).
1988—Par. (6). Pub. L. 100–690, §7511(c), added par. (6).
Par. (7). Pub. L. 100–690, §7512(b), added par. (7).
1986—Pub. L. 99–500 and Pub. L. 99–591 renumbered section 2255 of this title as this section.
Par. (5). Pub. L. 99–628, which directed that par. (5) be added to section 2255 of this title, was executed by adding par. (5) to section 2256 of this title to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the renumbering of section 2255 as 2256 by Pub. L. 99–500 and Pub. L. 99–591.
1984—Pub. L. 98–292, §5(b), renumbered section 2253 of this title as this section.
Par. (1). Pub. L. 98–292, §5(a)(1), substituted “eighteen” for “sixteen”.
Par. (2)(D). Pub. L. 98–292, §5(a)(2), (3), substituted “sadistic or masochistic” for “sado-masochistic” and struck out “(for the purpose of sexual stimulation)” after “abuse”.
Par. (2)(E). Pub. L. 98–292, §5(a)(4), substituted “lascivious” for “lewd”.
Par. (3). Pub. L. 98–292, §5(a)(5), struck out “, for pecuniary profit” after “advertising”.
Par. (4). Pub. L. 98–292, §5(a)(6), substituted “ ‘organization’ means a person other than an individual” for “ ‘visual or print medium’ means any film, photograph, negative, slide, book, magazine, or other visual or print medium”.
Confirmation of Intent of Congress in Enacting Sections 2252 and 2256 of This Title
For provisions declaring and confirming intent of Congress in enacting this section, see section 160003(a) of Pub. L. 103–322, set out as a note under section 2252 of this title.