Madeleine Dean: “September is Suicide Prevention Month, so let's focus on saving lives for those who are struggling with our mental…”

“September is Suicide Prevention Month, so let's focus on saving lives for those who are struggling with our mental health crisis, a crisis worsened by malicious online activity where children, teens, and women often bear the brunt. As the internet evolves, we have seen the scourge of bad actors sharing others' intimate private photos online. This is a violation of privacy and dignity, and it has metastasized in recent years, causing anguish for victims, many of whom consider suicide. Too many, including children, have lost their lives. That is why I introduced the bipartisan SHIELD Act, with Representatives Moran, Plaskett, Fitzpatrick, and Mace, to close the loophole in current law so that those who share exploitive nude photos of children will be held to account; to ban sextortion, the act of threatening to reveal private or explicit images for money or access; and to protect adults and their private photos from being exposed. The internet is ever-changing, and Federal law must catch up. The SHIELD Act will protect Americans' privacy online and save lives. ____________________”