---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 2257A"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "2257A"
heading: "Record keeping requirements for simulated sexual conduct"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/2257A"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 110 — Sexual Exploitation and Other Abuse of Children"
---

# §2257A. Record keeping requirements for simulated sexual conduct

- (a) [Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) produces any book, magazine, periodical, film, videotape, digital image, digitally- or [computer](/usc/18/2256.md?p=6)-manipulated image of an actual human being, picture, or other matter that—
  - (1) contains 1 or more [visual depictions](/usc/18/2256.md?p=5) of simulated sexually explicit conduct; and
  - (2) is produced in whole or in part with materials which have been mailed or shipped in [interstate or foreign commerce](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-2), or is shipped or transported or is intended for shipment or transportation in [interstate or foreign commerce](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-2);

  shall create and maintain individually identifiable records pertaining to every performer portrayed in such a [visual depiction](/usc/18/2256.md?p=5).

- (b) Any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) to whom [subsection (a)](#a) applies shall, with respect to every performer portrayed in a [visual depiction](/usc/18/2256.md?p=5) of simulated sexually explicit conduct—
  - (1) ascertain, by examination of an identification document containing such information, the performer’s name and date of birth, and require the performer to provide such other indicia of his or her identity as may be prescribed by regulations;
  - (2) ascertain any name, other than the performer’s present and correct name, ever used by the performer including maiden name, alias, nickname, stage, or professional name; and
  - (3) record in the records required by [subsection (a)](#a) the information required by paragraphs [(1)](#b-1) and [(2)](#b-2) and such other identifying information as may be prescribed by regulation.
- (c) Any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) to whom [subsection (a)](#a) applies shall maintain the records required by this section at their business premises, or at such other place as the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) may by regulation prescribe and shall make such records available to the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) for inspection at all reasonable times.
- (d)
  - (1) No information or evidence obtained from records required to be created or maintained by this section shall, except as provided in this section, directly or indirectly, be used as evidence against any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) with respect to any violation of law.
  - (2) [Paragraph (1)](#d-1) shall not preclude the use of such information or evidence in a prosecution or other action for a violation of this chapter or [chapter 71](/usc/18/chptI/ch71.md), or for a violation of any applicable provision of law with respect to the furnishing of false information.
- (e)
  - (1) Any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) to whom [subsection (a)](#a) applies shall cause to be affixed to every copy of any matter described in [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1) in such manner and in such form as the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) shall by regulations prescribe, a statement describing where the records required by this section with respect to all performers depicted in that copy of the matter may be located. In this paragraph, the term “copy” includes every page of a website on which matter described in [subsection (a)](#a) appears.
  - (2) If the [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) to whom [subsection (a)](#a) applies is an [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) the statement required by this subsection shall include the name, title, and business address of the individual employed by such [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) responsible for maintaining the records required by this section.
- (f) It shall be unlawful—
  - (1) for any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) to whom [subsection (a)](#a) applies to fail to create or maintain the records as required by subsections [(a)](#a) and [(c)](#c) or by any regulation promulgated under this section;
  - (2) for any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) to whom [subsection (a)](#a) applies knowingly to make any false entry in or knowingly to fail to make an appropriate entry in, any record required by [subsection (b)](#b) or any regulation promulgated under this section;
  - (3) for any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) to whom [subsection (a)](#a) applies knowingly to fail to comply with the provisions of [subsection (e)](#e) or any regulation promulgated pursuant to that subsection; or
  - (4) for any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) knowingly to sell or otherwise transfer, or offer for sale or transfer, any book, magazine, periodical, film, video, or other matter, produced in whole or in part with materials which have been mailed or shipped in [interstate or foreign commerce](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-2) or which is intended for shipment in [interstate or foreign commerce](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-2), that—
    - (A) contains 1 or more [visual depictions](/usc/18/2256.md?p=5) made after the date of enactment of this subsection of simulated sexually explicit conduct; and
    - (B) is produced in whole or in part with materials which have been mailed or shipped in [interstate or foreign commerce](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-2), or is shipped or transported or is intended for shipment or transportation in [interstate or foreign commerce](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-2);

    which does not have affixed thereto, in a manner prescribed as set forth in [subsection (e)(1)](#e-1), a statement describing where the records required by this section may be located, but such [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) shall have no duty to determine the accuracy of the contents of the statement or the records required to be kept.

  - (5) for any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) to whom [subsection (a)](#a) applies to refuse to permit the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) or his or her designee to conduct an inspection under [subsection (c)](#c).
- (g) As used in this section, the terms “produces” and “performer” have the same meaning as in [section 2257(h) of this title](/usc/18/2257.md?p=h).
- (h)
  - (1) The provisions of this section and [section 2257](/usc/18/2257.md) shall not apply to matter, or any image therein, containing one or more [visual depictions](/usc/18/2256.md?p=5) of simulated sexually explicit conduct, or actual sexually explicit conduct as described in [clause (v)](/usc/18/2256.md?p=2-A-v) of section 2256(2)(A), if such matter—
    - (A)
      - (i) is intended for commercial distribution;
      - (ii) is created as a part of a commercial [enterprise](/usc/18/1961.md?p=4) by a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who certifies to the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) that such [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) regularly and in the normal course of business collects and maintains individually identifiable information regarding all performers, including [minor](/usc/18/2256.md?p=1) performers, employed by that [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), pursuant to Federal and [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) tax, labor, and other laws, labor agreements, or otherwise pursuant to industry standards, where such information includes the name, address, and date of birth of the performer; and
      - (iii) is not produced, marketed or made available by the [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) described in [clause (ii)](#h-1-A-ii) to another in circumstances such than[^1] an ordinary [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) would conclude that the matter contains a [visual depiction](/usc/18/2256.md?p=5) that is [child pornography](/usc/18/2256.md?p=8) as defined in [section 2256(8)](/usc/18/2256.md?p=8); or
    - (B)
      - (i) is subject to the authority and regulation of the Federal Communications Commission acting in its capacity to enforce [section 1464 of this title](/usc/18/1464.md), regarding the broadcast of obscene, indecent or profane programming; and
      - (ii) is created as a part of a commercial [enterprise](/usc/18/1961.md?p=4) by a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who certifies to the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) that such [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) regularly and in the normal course of business collects and maintains individually identifiable information regarding all performers, including [minor](/usc/18/2256.md?p=1) performers, employed by that [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), pursuant to Federal and [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) tax, labor, and other laws, labor agreements, or otherwise pursuant to industry standards, where such information includes the name, address, and date of birth of the performer.
  - (2) Nothing in subparagraphs [(A)](#h-1-A) and [(B)](#h-1-B) of paragraph (1) shall be construed to exempt any matter that contains any [visual depiction](/usc/18/2256.md?p=5) that is [child pornography](/usc/18/2256.md?p=8), as defined in [section 2256(8)](/usc/18/2256.md?p=8), or is actual sexually explicit conduct within the definitions in clauses [(i)](/usc/18/2256.md?p=2-A-i) through [(iv)](/usc/18/2256.md?p=2-A-iv) of section 2256(2)(A).
- (i)
  - (1) [Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) violates this section shall be imprisoned for not more than 1 year, and[^2] fined in accordance with the provisions of this title, or both.
  - (2) [Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) violates this section in an effort to conceal a substantive offense involving the causing, transporting, permitting or offering or seeking by notice or advertisement, a [minor](/usc/18/2256.md?p=1) to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of [producing](/usc/18/2256.md?p=3) a [visual depiction](/usc/18/2256.md?p=5) of such conduct in violation of this title, or to conceal a substantive offense that involved trafficking in material involving the sexual exploitation of a [minor](/usc/18/2256.md?p=1), including receiving, transporting, advertising, or possessing material involving the sexual exploitation of a [minor](/usc/18/2256.md?p=1) with intent to traffic, in violation of this title, shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years and[^2] fined in accordance with the provisions of this title, or both.
  - (3) [Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) violates [paragraph (2)](#i-2) after having been previously convicted of a violation punishable under that paragraph shall be imprisoned for any period of years not more than 10 years but not less than 2 years, and[^2] fined in accordance with the provisions of this title, or both.

    The[^3] provisions of this section shall not become effective until 90 days after the final regulations implementing this section are published in the Federal Register. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any matter, or image therein, produced, in whole or in part, prior to the effective date of this section.

- (k) On an annual basis, the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) shall submit a report to Congress—
  - (1) concerning the enforcement of this section and [section 2257](/usc/18/2257.md) by the Department of Justice during the previous 12-month period; and
  - (2) including—
    - (A) the number of inspections undertaken pursuant to this section and [section 2257](/usc/18/2257.md);
    - (B) the number of open investigations pursuant to this section and [section 2257](/usc/18/2257.md);
    - (C) the number of cases in which a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) has been charged with a violation of this section and [section 2257](/usc/18/2257.md); and
    - (D) for each case listed in response to [subparagraph (C)](#k-2-C), the name of the lead defendant, the federal district in which the case was brought, the court tracking number, and a synopsis of the violation and its disposition, if any, including settlements, sentences, recoveries and penalties.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “that”.
[^2]: So in original.
[^3]: So in original. Probably should be “(j) The”.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 109–248, title V, § 503(a), July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 626.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The date of enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsec. (f)(4)(A), means the date of enactment of Pub. L. 109–248, which was approved July 27, 2006.

Final regulations implementing this section, referred to in the undesignated subsec. preceding subsec. (k), were published in the Federal Register on Dec. 18, 2008, see 73 F.R. 77432.