STOP CSAM Act of 2025

The STOP CSAM Act of 2025 aims to combat the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online by increasing the legal responsibilities of technology companies and social media platforms. The bill proposes to expand existing reporting requirements, mandating that online service providers report known instances of child exploitation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) within a specific timeframe. It also introduces a requirement for large tech companies to submit annual transparency reports detailing their efforts to protect children and the prevalence of abusive content on their platforms.

If enacted, the legislation would create new pathways for victims to seek justice through the civil court system. It proposes to allow survivors of online child exploitation to bring lawsuits against platforms that intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly promote, host, or facilitate the distribution of such material. To support these legal efforts, the bill would also remove statutes of limitations for these civil actions and provide enhanced privacy protections for child victims and witnesses during federal court proceedings.

Additionally, the bill seeks to improve the removal process for illegal content. It would empower victims to request that tech companies remove specific abusive imagery and would establish administrative penalties for companies that fail to comply with these requests. The proposal also includes provisions to appoint legal guardians and trustees to manage restitution payments for minor victims, ensuring that financial recoveries are properly handled for their long-term support.