Us Code § 2258B - Limited liability for providers or domain name registrars

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 2258B — Limited liability for providers or domain name registrars, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 2258B. Limited liability for providers or domain name registrars

(a) In General.—Except as provided in subsection (b), a civil claim or criminal charge against a provider or domain name registrar, including any director, officer, employee, or agent of such provider or domain name registrar arising from the performance of the reporting or preservation responsibilities of such provider or domain name registrar under this section, section 2258A, or section 2258C may not be brought in any Federal or State court.

(b) Intentional, Reckless, or Other Misconduct.—Subsection (a) shall not apply to a claim if the provider or domain name registrar, or a director, officer, employee, or agent of that provider or domain name registrar—

(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 physical injury without legal justification; or

(C) for a purpose unrelated to the performance of any responsibility or function under this section,1 sections 2258A, 2258C, 2702, or 2703.


(c) Minimizing Access.—A provider and domain name registrar shall—

(1) minimize the number of employees that are provided access to any visual depiction provided under section 2258A or 2258C; and

(2) ensure that any such visual depiction is permanently destroyed, upon a request from a law enforcement agency to destroy the visual depiction.

(Added Pub. L. 110–401, title V, §501(a), Oct. 13, 2008, 122 Stat. 4248; amended Pub. L. 115–395, §3, Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5292.)


Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–395, §3(1), substituted "providers, or domain name registrars" for "electronic communication service providers, remote computing service providers, or domain name registrar" in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–395, §3(2), substituted "a provider" for "an electronic communication service provider, a remote computing service provider," and substituted "such provider" for "such electronic communication service provider, remote computing service provider," in two places.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–395, §3(3), substituted "provider" for "electronic communication service provider, remote computing service provider," in two places in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–395, §3(4), substituted "A provider" for "An electronic communication service provider, a remote computing service provider," in introductory provisions and "visual depiction" for "image" wherever appearing in pars. (1) and (2).

1 So in original. The comma probably should be "or".

About This Section

18 U.S.C. § 2258B is part of Title 18 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 18 U.S.C. § 2258B. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

How to Read This Statute

Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.

Using This Page

This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.

Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 2258B

What does United States Code § 2258B cover?

Section 2258B ("Limited liability for providers or domain name registrars") is part of the United States Code, the codified statutory law of Us Code. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Us Code § 2258B?

A common citation format is "United States Code § 2258B" (Us Code). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Us Code law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Us Code official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Us Code attorney.

How does Us Code § 2258B apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Us Code can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Us Code.