---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 2258D"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "2258D"
heading: "Limited liability for NCMEC"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/2258D"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 110 — Sexual Exploitation and Other Abuse of Children"
---

# §2258D. Limited liability for NCMEC

- (a) **In General.—** Pursuant to its clearinghouse role as a private, nonprofit [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) and its mission to help find missing [children](/usc/18/1093.md?p=1), reduce online sexual exploitation of [children](/usc/18/1093.md?p=1) and prevent future victimization, and except as provided in subsections [(b)](#b) and [(c)](#c), a civil claim or criminal charge against NCMEC, including any director, [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c), [employee](/usc/18/202.md?p=c), or agent of NCMEC, arising from the performance of the CyberTipline responsibilities or functions of NCMEC, as described in this section, section [2258A](/usc/18/2258A.md) or [2258C](/usc/18/2258C.md) of this title, or section 404 of the Missing [Children](/usc/18/1093.md?p=1)’s Assistance Act ([34 U.S.C. 11293](/usc/34/11293.md)), or from the efforts of NCMEC to identify child victims may not be brought in any Federal or [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) court.
- (b) **Intentional, Reckless, or Other Misconduct.—** [Subsection (a)](#a) shall not apply to a claim or charge if NCMEC, or a director, [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c), [employee](/usc/18/202.md?p=c), or agent of NCMEC—
  - (1) engaged in intentional misconduct; or
  - (2) acted, or failed to act—
    - (A) with actual malice;
    - (B) with reckless disregard to a substantial risk of causing injury without legal justification; or
    - (C) for a purpose unrelated to the performance of any responsibility or function under this section, section [2258A](/usc/18/2258A.md) or [2258C](/usc/18/2258C.md) of this title, or section 404 of the Missing [Children](/usc/18/1093.md?p=1)’s Assistance Act ([34 U.S.C. 11293](/usc/34/11293.md)).
- (c) **Ordinary Business Activities.—** [Subsection (a)](#a) shall not apply to an act or omission relating to an ordinary business activity, including general administration or operations, the use of [motor vehicles](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6), or personnel management.
- (d) **Minimizing Access.—** NCMEC shall—
  - (1) minimize the number of [employees](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) that are provided access to any [visual depiction](/usc/18/2256.md?p=5) provided under [section 2258A](/usc/18/2258A.md); and
  - (2) ensure that any such [visual depiction](/usc/18/2256.md?p=5) is permanently destroyed upon notification from a law enforcement agency.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 110–401, title V, § 501(a), Oct. 13, 2008, 122 Stat. 4250; amended Pub. L. 115–395, § 5, Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5294.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–395, § 5(1), substituted “NCMEC” for “the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–395, § 5(2), substituted “Pursuant to its clearinghouse role as a private, nonprofit organization and its mission to help find missing children, reduce online sexual exploitation of children and prevent future victimization, and except as provided” for “Except as provided”, “against NCMEC” for “against the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children”, “(34 U.S.C. 11293)” for “(42 U.S.C. 5773)”, “of NCMEC” for “of such center” wherever appearing, and “from the efforts” for “from the effort”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–395, § 5(3), substituted “if NCMEC” for “if the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children”, “of NCMEC” for “of such center”, and “(34 U.S.C. 11293)” for “(42 U.S.C. 5773)”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–395, § 5(4), substituted “NCMEC” for “The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children” in introductory provisions and “visual depiction” for “image” in pars. (1) and (2).