---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 2252C"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "2252C"
heading: "Misleading words or digital images on the Internet"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/2252C"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 110 — Sexual Exploitation and Other Abuse of Children"
---

# §2252C. Misleading words or digital images on the Internet

- (a) **In General.—** [Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) knowingly embeds words or digital images into the source code of a website with the intent to deceive a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) into viewing material constituting obscenity shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for not more than 10 years.
- (b) **Minors.—** [Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) knowingly embeds words or digital images into the source code of a website with the intent to deceive a [minor](/usc/18/2256.md?p=1) into viewing material harmful to [minors](/usc/18/2256.md?p=1) on the Internet shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for not more than 20 years.
- (c) **Construction.—** For the purposes of this section, a word or digital image that clearly indicates the sexual content of the site, such as “sex” or “porn”, is not misleading.
- (d) **Definitions.—** As used in this section—
  - (1) the terms “material that is harmful to [minors](/usc/18/2256.md?p=1)” and “sex” have the meaning given such terms in [section 2252B](/usc/18/2252B.md); and
  - (2) the term “source code” means the combination of text and other characters comprising the content, both viewable and nonviewable, of a web page, including any website publishing language, programming language, protocol or functional content, as well as any successor languages or protocols.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 109–248, title VII, § 703(a), July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 648.)