{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/18.2-386.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/18.2-386.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/18.2-386.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/18.2-386.2.html"}],"law_id":350897,"edition_id":2,"section_id":350897,"structure_id":50183,"section_number":"18.2-386.2","catch_line":"Unlawful dissemination or sale of images of another; penalty","history":"2014, c. 399; 2019, cc. 490, 515; 2024, c. 697.","full_text":"A\n\nAny person who, with the intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate, maliciously disseminates or sells any videographic or still image created by any means whatsoever that depicts another person (i) who is totally nude; (ii) who is in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast; or (iii) whose genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast are not exposed but such videographic or still image is obscene as defined in § 18.2-372 where such person knows or has reason to know that he is not licensed or authorized to disseminate or sell such videographic or still image is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this subsection, “another person” includes a person whose image was used in creating, adapting, or modifying a videographic or still image with the intent to depict an actual person and who is recognizable as an actual person by the person’s face, likeness, or other distinguishing characteristic.\n\nB\n\nIf a person uses services of an Internet service provider, an electronic mail service provider, or any other information service, system, or access software provider that provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a computer server in committing acts prohibited under this section, such provider shall not be held responsible for violating this section for content provided by another person.\n\nC\n\nVenue for a prosecution under this section may lie in the jurisdiction where the unlawful act occurs or where any videographic or still image created by any means whatsoever is produced, reproduced, found, stored, received, or possessed in violation of this section.\n\nD\n\nThe provisions of this section shall not preclude prosecution under any other statute.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1307157,"text":"Any person who, with the intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate, maliciously disseminates or sells any videographic or still image created by any means whatsoever that depicts another person (i) who is totally nude; (ii) who is in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast; or (iii) whose genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast are not exposed but such videographic or still image is obscene as defined in § 18.2-372 where such person knows or has reason to know that he is not licensed or authorized to disseminate or sell such videographic or still image is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this subsection, “another person” includes a person whose image was used in creating, adapting, or modifying a videographic or still image with the intent to depict an actual person and who is recognizable as an actual person by the person’s face, likeness, or other distinguishing characteristic.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1307158,"text":"If a person uses services of an Internet service provider, an electronic mail service provider, or any other information service, system, or access software provider that provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a computer server in committing acts prohibited under this section, such provider shall not be held responsible for violating this section for content provided by another person.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1307159,"text":"Venue for a prosecution under this section may lie in the jurisdiction where the unlawful act occurs or where any videographic or still image created by any means whatsoever is produced, reproduced, found, stored, received, or possessed in violation of this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1307160,"text":"The provisions of this section shall not preclude prosecution under any other statute.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50183,"edition_id":2,"name":"Obscenity and Related Offenses","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":8,"parent_id":50176,"metadata":{"child_laws":28,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:24:17","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:24","permalink":{"id":1394845,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50183,"identifier":"5","token":"18.2\/8\/5","url":"\/18.2\/8\/5\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50176,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes Involving Morals and Decency","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":8,"parent_id":50131,"metadata":{"child_laws":145,"child_structures":10},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:24:01","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:23","permalink":{"id":1394395,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50176,"identifier":"8","token":"18.2\/8","url":"\/18.2\/8\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50131,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":52,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":960,"child_structures":94},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:59","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:15","permalink":{"id":1391141,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50131,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":350874,"structure_id":50183,"section_number":"18.2-372","catch_line":"\"Obscene\" defined","url":"\/18.2-372\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-372","metadata":false},{"id":350875,"structure_id":50183,"section_number":"18.2-373","catch_line":"Obscene items enumerated","url":"\/18.2-373\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-373","metadata":false},{"id":350882,"structure_id":50183,"section_number":"18.2-374","catch_line":"Production, publication, sale, possession, etc., of obscene items","url":"\/18.2-374\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-374","metadata":false},{"id":350876,"structure_id":50183,"section_number":"18.2-374.1","catch_line":"Production, publication, sale, financing, etc., of child pornography; 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Commonwealth","case_number":"Record 0985-03-3","citation":"600 S.E.2d 162","date":"2004-08-10","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1415840\/moses-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. KELSEY, J., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"9":{"name":"Simmons v. T.M. Assocs. Mgmt., Inc.","case_number":"Case No. 3:17\u2013cv\u201300066","citation":"287 F. Supp. 3d 600","date":"2018-02-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7328200\/simmons-v-tm-assocs-mgmt-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. NORMAN K. MOON, SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, W.D. Virginia"}}}},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-386.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2014. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 399<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2019, chapters 490<\/a> and 515<\/a>; in 2024, chapter 697<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":351833,"section_number":"19.2-392.02","catch_line":"National criminal background checks by businesses and organizations regarding employees or volunteers providing care to children or the elderly or disabled","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.02\/"},{"id":351939,"section_number":"19.2-8","catch_line":"Limitation of prosecutions","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-8\/"},{"id":377263,"section_number":"8.01-40.4","catch_line":"Civil action for unlawful creation of image of another or unlawful dissemination or sale of images of another","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-40.4\/"},{"id":378742,"section_number":"9.1-902","catch_line":"Offenses requiring registration","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-902\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":350874,"section_number":"18.2-372","catch_line":"\"Obscene\" defined","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-372\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1394939,"object_type":"law","relational_id":350897,"identifier":"18.2-386.2","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-386.2","url":"\/18.2-386.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-386.2\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-386.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Unlawful dissemination or sale of images of another; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-386.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any person who, with the intent<\/span> to coerce, harass, or intimidate, maliciously disseminates or sells any videographic or still image created by any means whatsoever that depicts another person<\/span> (i) who is totally nude; (ii) who is in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast; or (iii) whose genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast are not exposed but such videographic or still image is obscene as defined in § 18.2-372<\/a> where such person knows or has reason to know that he is not licensed or authorized to disseminate or sell such videographic or still image is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. For purposes of this subsection, “another person<\/span>” includes a person whose image was used in creating, adapting, or modifying a videographic or still image with the intent<\/span> to depict an actual person and who is recognizable as an actual person by the person’s face, likeness, or other distinguishing characteristic. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> If a person uses services of an Internet service provider, an electronic mail service provider, or any other information service, system, or access software provider that provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a computer server in committing acts prohibited under this section, such provider shall not be held responsible for violating this section for content provided by another person<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Venue<\/span> for a prosecution<\/span> under this section may lie in the jurisdiction<\/span> where the unlawful act occurs or where any videographic or still image created by any means whatsoever is produced, reproduced, found, stored, received, or possessed in violation of this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The provisions of this section shall not preclude prosecution<\/span> under any other statute<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nUNLAWFUL DISSEMINATION OR SALE OF IMAGES OF ANOTHER; PENALTY (\u00a7 18.2-386.2)\n\nA. Any person who, with the intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate, maliciously\ndisseminates or sells any videographic or still image created by any means\nwhatsoever that depicts another person (i) who is totally nude; (ii) who is in a\nstate of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female\nbreast; or (iii) whose genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast are not\nexposed but such videographic or still image is obscene as defined in §\n18.2-372 where such person knows or has reason to know that he is not licensed\nor authorized to disseminate or sell such videographic or still image is guilty\nof a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this subsection, “another\nperson” includes a person whose image was used in creating, adapting, or\nmodifying a videographic or still image with the intent to depict an actual\nperson and who is recognizable as an actual person by the person’s face,\nlikeness, or other distinguishing characteristic.\n\nB. If a person uses services of an Internet service provider, an electronic mail\nservice provider, or any other information service, system, or access software\nprovider that provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a\ncomputer server in committing acts prohibited under this section, such provider\nshall not be held responsible for violating this section for content provided by\nanother person.\n\nC. Venue for a prosecution under this section may lie in the jurisdiction where\nthe unlawful act occurs or where any videographic or still image created by any\nmeans whatsoever is produced, reproduced, found, stored, received, or possessed\nin violation of this section.\n\nD. The provisions of this section shall not preclude prosecution under any other\nstatute.\n\nHISTORY: 2014, c. 399; 2019, cc. 490, 515; 2024, c. 697.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}