Stronger Child Protection and Tech Accountability Against Online Sexual Exploitation
This law significantly enhances protections for child victims and witnesses in federal courts, establishing stronger safeguards for their identity and ensuring mandatory restitution. It imposes strict obligations on technology providers, requiring reporting of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) within a specific timeframe and threatening high penalties for non-compliance. Victims gain a new right to sue online platforms that knowingly host or promote such content.
Key points
Court Protection: Expands definitions of child abuse (including psychological abuse) and creates a presumption that public disclosure of a victim's identity is detrimental.
Financial Restitution: Courts must order mandatory restitution for victims, and a trustee can be appointed to manage funds for minors or incapacitated victims.
Tech Industry Accountability: Providers must report apparent CSAM to the CyberTipline within 60 days, and large platforms (over 1M users and $50M revenue) are required to submit annual safety reports.
Penalties for Companies: Substantial criminal and civil fines (up to $5 million if an individual is harmed) are introduced for providers that knowingly host or promote child sexual abuse material.
New Civil Remedy: Victims can sue interactive computer services and app stores for intentional or reckless promotion or hosting of child pornography, with liquidated damages set at $300,000.
Introduced
Citizen Poll