STOP CSAM Act of 2025

Key Points

• Victims of child sexual exploitation can sue tech companies and app stores that intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly host child pornography or promote exploitation. Victims can recover at least $300,000 in damages, with no time limit on filing a lawsuit.
• Large tech companies (over 1 million monthly users and $50 million in revenue) must file annual transparency reports with the Attorney General and FTC detailing how they protect children, handle abuse reports, and what safety tools they use.
• The bill creates stricter CyberTipline reporting rules. Companies must report known child exploitation material within 60 days, and those that fail to report or preserve evidence face criminal fines up to $1 million and civil penalties up to $250,000 per violation.
• Child victims and witnesses in federal court get stronger privacy protections. Courts must presume that disclosing a child's personal information would be harmful, and violating a protective order can be treated as contempt of court.
• Courts can appoint trustees to hold restitution money for child victims who are minors, incapacitated, or foreign citizens. The bill authorizes $15 million per year for this program and $25 million per year for guardian ad litem services.
• Section 230 of the Communications Act cannot be used as a shield against the new civil lawsuits. The bill explicitly states that Section 230 does not block claims brought under these provisions, though encryption services alone cannot be the sole basis for liability.