Rep. Nancy Mace Introduces Bill To Protect Service Members From Online Predators

(Washington, D.C., September 4, 2025) — Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced the Halting Online Nonconsensual Offenses in the Ranks (HONOR) Act, legislation to modernize the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and expand prohibitions against the wrongful distribution of intimate visual images, including AI-generated “deepfakes” and other digital forgeries.

The bill builds on one of Rep. Mace’s amendments in the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which updated the UCMJ to modernize the prohibition of revenge porn and ban sexually explicit deepfakes. The HONOR Act strengthens protections for service members and ensures the military justice system keeps pace with emerging digital threats.

"Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line for this country. The last thing they should ever worry about is being targeted by online predators or humiliated by deepfakes,” said Congresswoman Mace. “Our bill draws a hard line: harassment and exploitation will not be tolerated in our military, and anyone who tries will face the consequences.” 

The legislation also builds on the bipartisan TAKE IT DOWN Act, which Congress passed earlier this year and President Trump signed into law to strengthen nationwide protections against nonconsensual intimate imagery. By closing loopholes in the UCMJ, the HONOR Act guarantees service members the same protections civilians already have under federal law.

The HONOR Act will:

• Expand protections to include authentic and AI-manipulated images, covering both revenge porn and deepfakes used to exploit or humiliate service members.
• Clarify consent rules, making clear consent to creation does not equal consent to distribution.
• Protect minors from digitally altered sexual depictions, imposing strict prohibitions against exploitative deepfakes of children.
• Enforce strong penalties under military law, closing loopholes and holding offenders accountable under the UCMJ.

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