{ "batch": "228-virginia-video-recording-and-obscenity-statutes", "articles": [ { "id": "learn_r228_virginia_video_recording_and_obscenity_statutes_va_code_index_anchor", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Official statutory code index and URL", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia's official statutory code is the Code of Virginia, hosted by the Virginia General Assembly Legislative Information System; the authoritative index URL is https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/.", "body": "Virginia's official statutory code is the Code of Virginia, hosted by the Virginia General Assembly Legislative Information System; the authoritative index URL is https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/.\n\nWhat Virginia General Assembly actually says:\n\n“Code of Virginia”\n\nNote: Anchor record: the index page heading 'Code of Virginia' identifies the code; Title 18.2 (Crimes and Offenses Generally) and Title 19.2 (Criminal Procedure) are the titles containing the relevant filming/recording statutes.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/", "last_verified": "2026-09-19", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Virginia General Assembly", "evidence_quote": "Code of Virginia", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "228-virginia-video-recording-and-obscenity-statutes", "subject": "the Virginia statutes that touch filming, recording and distributing sexual content between consenting adults", "topic": "Official statutory code index and URL", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "region=us-va per batch tags", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-va" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "failed", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "placeholder_quote_too_short", "strong_label_on_weak_content" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r228_virginia_video_recording_and_obscenity_statutes_va_18_2_62_interception_consent", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Recording consent - one-party vs all-party consent for audio interception", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia is a one-party consent state: it is lawful to intercept a wire, electronic or oral communication when one of the parties has given prior consent, and for all parties to do so is a Class 6 felony.", "body": "Virginia is a one-party consent state: it is lawful to intercept a wire, electronic or oral communication when one of the parties has given prior consent, and for all parties to do so is a Class 6 felony.\n\nWhat Virginia General Assembly actually says:\n\n“It shall not be a criminal offense under this chapter for a person to intercept a wire, electronic or oral communication, where such person is a party to the communication or one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to such interception.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/19.2-62", "last_verified": "2026-09-19", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Virginia General Assembly", "evidence_quote": "It shall not be a criminal offense under this chapter for a person to intercept a wire, electronic or oral communication, where such person is a party to the communication or one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to such interception.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "228-virginia-video-recording-and-obscenity-statutes", "subject": "the Virginia statutes that touch filming, recording and distributing sexual content between consenting adults", "topic": "Recording consent - one-party vs all-party consent for audio interception", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-va" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "access.id", "access.signup" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "failed", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "hollow_body", "strong_label_on_weak_content" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r228_virginia_video_recording_and_obscenity_statutes_va_18_2_372_obscenity_definition", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Definition of obscenity in Virginia", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] The Virginia obscenity definition covers material that appeals to prurient interest in sex, nudity, sexual conduct, or sadomasochistic abuse, goes beyond customary limits of candor, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.", "body": "The Virginia obscenity definition covers material that appeals to prurient interest in sex, nudity, sexual conduct, or sadomasochistic abuse, goes beyond customary limits of candor, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.\n\nWhat Virginia General Assembly actually says:\n\n“The word \"obscene\" where it appears in this article shall mean that which, considered as a whole, has as its dominant theme or purpose an appeal to the prurient interest in sex, that is, a shameful or morbid interest in nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, excretory functions or products thereof or sadomasochistic abuse, and which goes substantially beyond customary limits of candor in description or representation of such matters and which, taken as a whole, does not have serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/18.2-372", "last_verified": "2026-09-19", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Virginia General Assembly", "evidence_quote": "The word \"obscene\" where it appears in this article shall mean that which, considered as a whole, has as its dominant theme or purpose an appeal to the prurient interest in sex, that is, a shameful or morbid interest in nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, excretory functions or products thereof or sadomasochistic abuse, and which goes substantially beyond customary limits of candor in description or representation of such matters and which, taken as a whole, does not have serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "228-virginia-video-recording-and-obscenity-statutes", "subject": "the Virginia statutes that touch filming, recording and distributing sexual content between consenting adults", "topic": "Definition of obscenity in Virginia", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-va" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "rules.content" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "thin_body", "source_unverifiable:fetch_failed:budget" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r228_virginia_video_recording_and_obscenity_statutes_va_18_2_374_production_obscenity", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] The Virginia statutes that touch filming, recording and distributing sexual content between consenting adults: Production, publication, sale, possession of obscene items", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia criminalizes knowingly preparing, printing, copying, manufacturing, producing, publishing, selling, renting, transporting, distributing, exhibiting, or possessing with intent to sell/distribute any obscene items as defined in the obscenity statute.", "body": "Virginia criminalizes knowingly preparing, printing, copying, manufacturing, producing, publishing, selling, renting, transporting, distributing, exhibiting, or possessing with intent to sell/distribute any obscene items as defined in the obscenity statute.\n\nWhat Virginia General Assembly actually says:\n\n“It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to: (1) Prepare any obscene item for the purposes of sale or distribution; or (2) Print, copy, manufacture, produce, or reproduce any obscene item for purposes of sale or distribution; or (3) Publish, sell, rent, lend, transport in intrastate commerce, or distribute or exhibit any obscene item, or offer to do any of these things; or (4) Have in his possession with intent to sell, rent, lend, transport, or distribute any obscene item.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/18.2-374", "last_verified": "2026-09-19", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Virginia General Assembly", "evidence_quote": "It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to: (1) Prepare any obscene item for the purposes of sale or distribution; or (2) Print, copy, manufacture, produce, or reproduce any obscene item for purposes of sale or distribution; or (3) Publish, sell, rent, lend, transport in intrastate commerce, or distribute or exhibit any obscene item, or offer to do any of these things; or (4) Have in his possession with intent to sell, rent, lend, transport, or distribute any obscene item.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "228-virginia-video-recording-and-obscenity-statutes", "subject": "the Virginia statutes that touch filming, recording and distributing sexual content between consenting adults", "topic": "Production, publication, sale, possession of obscene items", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-va" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "rules.content", "money.fees", "money.pricing" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "thin_body", "source_unverifiable:fetch_failed:budget" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r228_virginia_video_recording_and_obscenity_statutes_va_18_2_386_1_unlawful_creation_image", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] The Virginia statutes that touch filming, recording and distributing sexual content between consenting adults: Unlawful creation of non-consensual images - synthetic/altered depictions", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia criminalizes knowingly creating videographic or still images of nonconsensual persons who are totally nude, in undergarments, in a state of undress exposing intimate parts, or obscene in private locations; includes placing camera between legs to capture intimate parts.", "body": "Virginia criminalizes knowingly creating videographic or still images of nonconsensual persons who are totally nude, in undergarments, in a state of undress exposing intimate parts, or obscene in private locations; includes placing camera between legs to capture intimate parts.\n\nWhat Virginia General Assembly actually says:\n\n“A. It is unlawful for any person to knowingly and intentionally create any videographic or still image by any means whatsoever of any nonconsenting person if (i) that person is (a) totally nude; (b) clad in undergarments; (c) in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast; or (d) not exposed to show the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast but such videographic or still image is obscene, as defined in § 18.2-372, when such nonconsenting person is in a restroom, dressing room, locker room, hotel room, motel room, tanning bed, tanning booth, bedroom, or other location; or (ii) the videographic or still image is created by placing the lens or image-gathering component of the recording device in a position directly beneath or between a person's legs for the purpose of capturing an image of the person's intimate parts or undergarments covering those intimate parts when the intimate parts or undergarments would not otherwise be visible to the general public; and when the circumstances set forth in clause (i) or (ii) are otherwise such that the person being recorded would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/18.2-386.1", "last_verified": "2026-09-19", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Virginia General Assembly", "evidence_quote": "A. It is unlawful for any person to knowingly and intentionally create any videographic or still image by any means whatsoever of any nonconsenting person if (i) that person is (a) totally nude; (b) clad in undergarments; (c) in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast; or (d) not exposed to show the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast but such videographic or still image is obscene, as defined in § 18.2-372, when such nonconsenting person is in a restroom, dressing room, locker room, hotel room, motel room, tanning bed, tanning booth, bedroom, or other location; or (ii) the videographic or still image is created by placing the lens or image-gathering component of the recording device in a position directly beneath or between a person's legs for the purpose of capturing an image of the person's intimate parts or undergarments covering those intimate parts when the intimate parts or undergarments would not otherwise be visible to the general public; and when the circumstances set forth in clause (i) or (ii) are otherwise such that the person being recorded would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "228-virginia-video-recording-and-obscenity-statutes", "subject": "the Virginia statutes that touch filming, recording and distributing sexual content between consenting adults", "topic": "Unlawful creation of non-consensual images - synthetic/altered depictions", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-va" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "safety.harm", "craft.studio", "craft.posting" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "thin_body", "source_unverifiable:fetch_failed:budget" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r228_virginia_video_recording_and_obscenity_statutes_va_18_2_386_2_unlawful_dissemination_images", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] The Virginia statutes that touch filming, recording and distributing sexual content between consenting adults: Unlawful dissemination/sale of non-consensual intimate images", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia criminalizes knowingly maliciously disseminating or selling videographic or still images depicting persons who are totally nude, in a state of undress exposing intimate parts, or obscene, with intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate.", "body": "Virginia criminalizes knowingly maliciously disseminating or selling videographic or still images depicting persons who are totally nude, in a state of undress exposing intimate parts, or obscene, with intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate.\n\nWhat Virginia General Assembly actually says:\n\n“A. Any person who, with the intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate, maliciously disseminates or sells any videographic or still image created by any means whatsoever that depicts another person (i) who is totally nude; (ii) who is in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast; or (iii) whose genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast are not exposed but such videographic or still image is obscene as defined in § 18.2-372 where such person knows or has reason to know that he is not licensed or authorized to disseminate or sell such videographic or still image is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/18.2-386.2", "last_verified": "2026-09-19", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Virginia General Assembly", "evidence_quote": "A. Any person who, with the intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate, maliciously disseminates or sells any videographic or still image created by any means whatsoever that depicts another person (i) who is totally nude; (ii) who is in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast; or (iii) whose genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast are not exposed but such videographic or still image is obscene as defined in § 18.2-372 where such person knows or has reason to know that he is not licensed or authorized to disseminate or sell such videographic or still image is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "228-virginia-video-recording-and-obscenity-statutes", "subject": "the Virginia statutes that touch filming, recording and distributing sexual content between consenting adults", "topic": "Unlawful dissemination/sale of non-consensual intimate images", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-va" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "safety.harm", "safety.legal", "safety.privacy" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "thin_body", "source_unverifiable:fetch_failed:budget" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r228_virginia_video_recording_and_obscenity_statutes_va_18_2_387_indecent_exposure", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] The Virginia statutes that touch filming, recording and distributing sexual content between consenting adults: Indecent exposure in public places", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia criminalizes intentionally making an obscene display or exposure of one's person or private parts in any public place or where others are present, with exceptions for breastfeeding.", "body": "Virginia criminalizes intentionally making an obscene display or exposure of one's person or private parts in any public place or where others are present, with exceptions for breastfeeding.\n\nWhat Virginia General Assembly actually says:\n\n“Every person who intentionally makes an obscene display or exposure of his person, or the private parts thereof, in any public place, or in any place where others are present, or procures another to so expose himself, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. No person shall be deemed to be in violation of this section for breastfeeding a child in any public place or any place where others are present.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/18.2-387", "last_verified": "2026-09-19", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Virginia General Assembly", "evidence_quote": "Every person who intentionally makes an obscene display or exposure of his person, or the private parts thereof, in any public place, or in any place where others are present, or procures another to so expose himself, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. No person shall be deemed to be in violation of this section for breastfeeding a child in any public place or any place where others are present.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "228-virginia-video-recording-and-obscenity-statutes", "subject": "the Virginia statutes that touch filming, recording and distributing sexual content between consenting adults", "topic": "Indecent exposure in public places", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-va" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "rules.content", "safety.harm" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "thin_body", "source_unverifiable:fetch_failed:budget" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r228_virginia_video_recording_and_obscenity_statutes_va_18_2_387_1_obscene_sexual_display", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Obscene sexual display in public places", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia criminalizes intentionally and obscenely engaging in actual or explicitly simulated acts of masturbation in any public place where others are present, with intent that others see.", "body": "Virginia criminalizes intentionally and obscenely engaging in actual or explicitly simulated acts of masturbation in any public place where others are present, with intent that others see.\n\nWhat Virginia General Assembly actually says:\n\n“Any person who, while in any public place where others are present, intending that he be seen by others, intentionally and obscenely as defined in § 18.2-372, engages in actual or explicitly simulated acts of masturbation, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/18.2-387.1", "last_verified": "2026-09-19", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Virginia General Assembly", "evidence_quote": "Any person who, while in any public place where others are present, intending that he be seen by others, intentionally and obscenely as defined in § 18.2-372, engages in actual or explicitly simulated acts of masturbation, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "228-virginia-video-recording-and-obscenity-statutes", "subject": "the Virginia statutes that touch filming, recording and distributing sexual content between consenting adults", "topic": "Obscene sexual display in public places", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-va" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "rules.content", "safety.harm" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "thin_body", "source_unverifiable:fetch_failed:budget" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r228_virginia_video_recording_and_obscenity_statutes_va_18_2_356_1_minors_purchase_sale", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Purchasing or selling of minors for sexual purposes", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia criminalizes offering money or valuable thing to purchase/control a minor, and any parent/guardian who receives money for selling/transferring custody of a minor, except for legitimate adoption or surrogacy.", "body": "Virginia criminalizes offering money or valuable thing to purchase/control a minor, and any parent/guardian who receives money for selling/transferring custody of a minor, except for legitimate adoption or surrogacy.\n\nWhat Virginia General Assembly actually says:\n\n“A. Any person who offers money or other valuable thing to another for the purpose of purchasing or otherwise obtaining custody or control of a minor and thereafter does any substantial act in furtherance thereof is guilty of a Class 5 felony. B. Any parent, legal guardian, or other person having custody or control of a minor who receives any money or other valuable thing for or on account of selling or otherwise transferring custody or control of such minor, or offers to sell or otherwise transfer custody or control of such minor, is guilty of a Class 5 felony. C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person (i) entering into a surrogacy contract pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 9 (§ 20-156 et seq.) of Title 20, (ii) seeking to adopt a child or place his child for adoption pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 12 (§ 63.2-1200 et seq.) of Title 63.2, or (iii) who is a person with a legitimate interest as defined in § 20-124.1 in such minor.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/18.2-356.1", "last_verified": "2026-09-19", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Virginia General Assembly", "evidence_quote": "A. Any person who offers money or other valuable thing to another for the purpose of purchasing or otherwise obtaining custody or control of a minor and thereafter does any substantial act in furtherance thereof is guilty of a Class 5 felony. B. Any parent, legal guardian, or other person having custody or control of a minor who receives any money or other valuable thing for or on account of selling or otherwise transferring custody or control of such minor, or offers to sell or otherwise transfer custody or control of such minor, is guilty of a Class 5 felony. C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person (i) entering into a surrogacy contract pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 9 (§ 20-156 et seq.) of Title 20, (ii) seeking to adopt a child or place his child for adoption pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 12 (§ 63.2-1200 et seq.) of Title 63.2, or (iii) who is a person with a legitimate interest as defined in § 20-124.1 in such minor.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "228-virginia-video-recording-and-obscenity-statutes", "subject": "the Virginia statutes that touch filming, recording and distributing sexual content between consenting adults", "topic": "Purchasing or selling of minors for sexual purposes", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-va" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "money.fees", "rules.coperformer" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "thin_body", "source_unverifiable:fetch_failed:budget" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r228_virginia_video_recording_and_obscenity_statutes_va_8_01_40_right_of_publicity", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] The Virginia statutes that touch filming, recording and distributing sexual content between consenting adults: Right of publicity - unauthorized use of name, portrait, picture, voice, or likeness for advertising or trade", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia provides a civil right of publicity under 8.01-40: any person whose name, portrait, picture, voice, or likeness is used without written consent for advertising purposes or for the purposes of trade may sue in equity to prevent and restrain the use and recover damages, including punitive damages if the defendant knowingly used the identity in a forbidden manner.", "body": "Virginia provides a civil right of publicity under 8.01-40: any person whose name, portrait, picture, voice, or likeness is used without written consent for advertising purposes or for the purposes of trade may sue in equity to prevent and restrain the use and recover damages, including punitive damages if the defendant knowingly used the identity in a forbidden manner.\n\nWhat Virginia General Assembly actually says:\n\n“A. Any person whose name, portrait, picture, voice, or likeness is used without having first obtained the written consent of such person, or if dead, of the surviving consort and if none, of the next of kin, or if a minor, the written consent of his or her parent or guardian, for advertising purposes or for the purposes of trade, such persons may maintain a suit in equity against the person, firm, or corporation so using such person's name, portrait, picture, voice, or likeness to prevent and restrain the use thereof; and may also sue and recover damages for any injuries sustained by reason of such use. And if the defendant shall have knowingly used such person's name, portrait, picture, voice, or likeness in such manner as is forbidden or declared to be unlawful by this chapter, the jury, in its discretion, may award punitive damages.”\n\nNote: Civil remedy, not criminal. Requires written consent for use in advertising or trade. Covers name, portrait, picture, voice, or likeness. Punitive damages available if defendant knowingly used the identity in a forbidden manner. Statute of limitations: no action more than 20 years after death of the person.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/8.01-40", "last_verified": "2026-09-19", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Virginia General Assembly", "evidence_quote": "A. Any person whose name, portrait, picture, voice, or likeness is used without having first obtained the written consent of such person, or if dead, of the surviving consort and if none, of the next of kin, or if a minor, the written consent of his or her parent or guardian, for advertising purposes or for the purposes of trade, such persons may maintain a suit in equity against the person, firm, or corporation so using such person's name, portrait, picture, voice, or likeness to prevent and restrain the use thereof; and may also sue and recover damages for any injuries sustained by reason of such use. And if the defendant shall have knowingly used such person's name, portrait, picture, voice, or likeness in such manner as is forbidden or declared to be unlawful by this chapter, the jury, in its discretion, may award punitive damages.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "228-virginia-video-recording-and-obscenity-statutes", "subject": "the Virginia statutes that touch filming, recording and distributing sexual content between consenting adults", "topic": "Right of publicity - unauthorized use of name, portrait, picture, voice, or likeness for advertising or trade", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "region=us-va per batch tags", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-va" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "money.fees", "safety.privacy", "rules.content" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r228_virginia_video_recording_and_obscenity_statutes_va_18_2_357_receiving_prostitution_earnings", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] The Virginia statutes that touch filming, recording and distributing sexual content between consenting adults: Receiving money from prostitution earnings (pandering)", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia criminalizes knowingly receiving money or valuable thing from prostitution earnings as a Class 4 felony, with Class 3 felony for receiving from persons under 18.", "body": "Virginia criminalizes knowingly receiving money or valuable thing from prostitution earnings as a Class 4 felony, with Class 3 felony for receiving from persons under 18.\n\nWhat Virginia General Assembly actually says:\n\n“Any person who shall knowingly receive any money or other valuable thing from the earnings of any male or female engaged in prostitution, except for a consideration deemed good and valuable in law, shall be guilty of pandering, punishable as a Class 4 felony. Any person who violates this section by receiving money or other valuable thing from a person under the age of 18 is guilty of a Class 3 felony.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/18.2-357", "last_verified": "2026-09-19", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Virginia General Assembly", "evidence_quote": "Any person who shall knowingly receive any money or other valuable thing from the earnings of any male or female engaged in prostitution, except for a consideration deemed good and valuable in law, shall be guilty of pandering, punishable as a Class 4 felony. Any person who violates this section by receiving money or other valuable thing from a person under the age of 18 is guilty of a Class 3 felony.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "228-virginia-video-recording-and-obscenity-statutes", "subject": "the Virginia statutes that touch filming, recording and distributing sexual content between consenting adults", "topic": "Receiving money from prostitution earnings (pandering)", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-va" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "money.fees", "rules.coperformer" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "thin_body", "source_unverifiable:fetch_failed:budget" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } } ] }