Bill text replaced
This bill's text was replaced via an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Some metadata (subjects, policy area, committees) may reflect the original bill and not the current text.
Summary
The STOP CSAM Act of 2025 proposes to strengthen federal laws surrounding the prevention of online child sexual exploitation. If enacted, the bill would require internet service providers and social media platforms to report instances of child sexual abuse material to the national CyberTipline within 60 days. These reports would need to include specific details about repeat offenders, and companies that fail to comply could face criminal or civil penalties. The bill also aims to prohibit these providers from hosting or knowingly facilitating the sexual exploitation of children, while allowing victims to sue companies for damages.
Beyond corporate requirements, the bill would expand legal protections for young victims and witnesses during federal court proceedings. It proposes extending privacy protections to victims of kidnapping and ensuring that individuals who were minors at the time of a crime remain eligible for these protections even after they turn 18. Additionally, the legislation would establish a system for courts to appoint trustees to manage restitution payments for minor victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse, ensuring their financial awards are protected until they reach adulthood.
AI-generated summary
Lifecycle of the Bill
HearingSenateMeeting
Jun 5, 2025 · 14:15
Business meeting to consider S.1829, to combat the sexual exploitation of children by supporting victims and promoting accountability and transparency by the tech industry, and the nominations of Stanley Woodward, Jr., of the District of Columbia, and Thomas Gaiser, of Ohio, both to be an Assistant Attorney General, Ronald A. Parsons, Jr., to be United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota, and David Charles Waterman, to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, all of the Department of Justice, Joseph Edlow, of Maryland, to be Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, and John Squires, of Florida, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Summary
On June 5, 2025, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a business meeting to consider S.1829, the STOP CSAM Act of 2025 (Strengthening Transparency and Obligations to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment Act). The bill seeks to combat the sexual exploitation of children by supporting victims and promoting accountability and transparency by the tech industry. As a business meeting rather than a hearing with witnesses, the committee focused on advancing the legislation. The bill expands existing requirements for interactive computer service providers to report child sexual abuse material to the CyberTipline and requires large providers to submit annual reports to the FTC and DOJ on their child safety efforts. It also authorizes funding for court services to support child victims, including guardians ad litem and trustees to manage restitution payments. Additionally, the bill expands civil liability for platforms that facilitate child sexual exploitation and strengthens criminal penalties for non-compliance. The legislation has drawn both support and opposition. Law enforcement organizations and child protection advocates have endorsed the bill as necessary to combat the rising number of identified child sexual abuse victims. However, digital rights organizations have raised concerns that certain provisions could undermine encryption and online privacy protections. The committee advanced the bill, and it was subsequently placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar for consideration by the full Senate.
Video
Watch videoCommittee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jun 12, 2025
HearingSenateMeeting
Jun 12, 2025 · 13:30
Business meeting to consider S.1829, to combat the sexual exploitation of children by supporting victims and promoting accountability and transparency by the tech industry, and the nominations of Stanley Woodward, Jr., of the District of Columbia, to be Associate Attorney General, Thomas Gaiser, of Ohio, to be an Assistant Attorney General, Bart McKay Davis, to be United States Attorney for the District of Idaho, David Metcalf, to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Ronald A. Parsons, Jr., to be United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota, all of the Department of Justice, Joseph Edlow, of Maryland, to be Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, and John Squires, of Florida, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Summary
On June 12, 2025, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a business meeting to consider S.1829, the STOP CSAM Act of 2025, along with several nominations to the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Commerce. The bill aims to combat the sexual exploitation of children by supporting victims and promoting accountability and transparency by technology companies. S.1829 would expand existing requirements for online platforms to report child sexual abuse material to the CyberTipline and require large providers to submit annual reports to the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice. The bill would authorize funding for court services to support child victims, including compensation for guardians ad litem and trustees to manage restitution payments. Additionally, it would expand the circumstances under which technology companies can be held liable in civil lawsuits by creating exceptions to Section 230 immunity protections, allowing victims to sue platforms for facilitating child sexual exploitation. The bill has received support from law enforcement organizations and child protection advocates who argue it strengthens tools to combat the growing crisis of child sexual abuse material online. However, civil liberties and privacy advocates have raised concerns that the legislation could undermine encryption protections and force companies to remove lawful content. The hearing was a business meeting to consider the bill's advancement, though a hearing alone does not guarantee the bill will advance further in the legislative process.
Video
Watch videoCommittee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Jun 26, 2025
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Jun 26, 2025
HearingSenateMeeting
Jun 5, 2025 · 14:15
Business meeting to consider S.1829, to combat the sexual exploitation of children by supporting victims and promoting accountability and transparency by the tech industry, and the nominations of Stanley Woodward, Jr., of the District of Columbia, and Thomas Gaiser, of Ohio, both to be an Assistant Attorney General, Ronald A. Parsons, Jr., to be United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota, and David Charles Waterman, to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, all of the Department of Justice, Joseph Edlow, of Maryland, to be Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, and John Squires, of Florida, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Summary
On June 5, 2025, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a business meeting to consider S.1829, the STOP CSAM Act of 2025 (Strengthening Transparency and Obligations to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment Act). The bill seeks to combat the sexual exploitation of children by supporting victims and promoting accountability and transparency by the tech industry. As a business meeting rather than a hearing with witnesses, the committee focused on advancing the legislation. The bill expands existing requirements for interactive computer service providers to report child sexual abuse material to the CyberTipline and requires large providers to submit annual reports to the FTC and DOJ on their child safety efforts. It also authorizes funding for court services to support child victims, including guardians ad litem and trustees to manage restitution payments. Additionally, the bill expands civil liability for platforms that facilitate child sexual exploitation and strengthens criminal penalties for non-compliance. The legislation has drawn both support and opposition. Law enforcement organizations and child protection advocates have endorsed the bill as necessary to combat the rising number of identified child sexual abuse victims. However, digital rights organizations have raised concerns that certain provisions could undermine encryption and online privacy protections. The committee advanced the bill, and it was subsequently placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar for consideration by the full Senate.
Video
Watch videoCommittee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jun 12, 2025
HearingSenateMeeting
Jun 12, 2025 · 13:30
Business meeting to consider S.1829, to combat the sexual exploitation of children by supporting victims and promoting accountability and transparency by the tech industry, and the nominations of Stanley Woodward, Jr., of the District of Columbia, to be Associate Attorney General, Thomas Gaiser, of Ohio, to be an Assistant Attorney General, Bart McKay Davis, to be United States Attorney for the District of Idaho, David Metcalf, to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Ronald A. Parsons, Jr., to be United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota, all of the Department of Justice, Joseph Edlow, of Maryland, to be Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, and John Squires, of Florida, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Summary
On June 12, 2025, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a business meeting to consider S.1829, the STOP CSAM Act of 2025, along with several nominations to the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Commerce. The bill aims to combat the sexual exploitation of children by supporting victims and promoting accountability and transparency by technology companies. S.1829 would expand existing requirements for online platforms to report child sexual abuse material to the CyberTipline and require large providers to submit annual reports to the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice. The bill would authorize funding for court services to support child victims, including compensation for guardians ad litem and trustees to manage restitution payments. Additionally, it would expand the circumstances under which technology companies can be held liable in civil lawsuits by creating exceptions to Section 230 immunity protections, allowing victims to sue platforms for facilitating child sexual exploitation. The bill has received support from law enforcement organizations and child protection advocates who argue it strengthens tools to combat the growing crisis of child sexual abuse material online. However, civil liberties and privacy advocates have raised concerns that the legislation could undermine encryption protections and force companies to remove lawful content. The hearing was a business meeting to consider the bill's advancement, though a hearing alone does not guarantee the bill will advance further in the legislative process.
Video
Watch videoCommittee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Jun 26, 2025
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Jun 26, 2025
Congress
119th Congress
Introduced
May 21, 2025
