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Congress·Reported

Congress Proposes New Fines and Lawsuits for Tech Companies Failing to Stop Child Abuse Online

STOP CSAM Act of 2025

Also known as: STOP CSAM Act of 2025

8 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
Senate
House
President

Key Points

  • This bill aims to stop the spread of child abuse material online by making tech companies more responsible for what happens on their platforms. It requires companies to report illegal content to a national tip line within 60 days of finding it.
  • Tech companies could face heavy fines if they fail to report abuse or if they intentionally host illegal material. Large companies with over 100 million users could be fined up to $1 million for repeated failures to follow the rules.
  • Victims would gain the right to sue social media apps and app stores if those companies intentionally or recklessly promote or host child abuse content. The bill clarifies that existing laws protecting websites from lawsuits do not apply in these cases.
  • The bill updates how courts handle these cases to better protect children. It expands the definition of abuse to include psychological harm and makes it easier for victims to receive and manage money won from offenders through court-ordered payments.
  • Large tech companies would be required to publish annual reports explaining their safety policies, how they use technology to protect children, and how many reports of abuse they have handled.
Technology DigitalCriminal JusticeCivil Rights

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

4 milestones5 actions
Jun 26, 2025Senate

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 106.

Jun 26, 2025Senate

Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

Jun 12, 2025Senate

Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

May 21, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

May 21, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

120 days after enactment

New reporting requirements for tech companies take effect

Tech platforms must begin reporting child exploitation material to the CyberTipline within 60 days of discovering it, with expanded information requirements. Companies that fail to comply face criminal fines up to $850,000 or more.

March 31 of the second year after enactment

First annual transparency reports due from large tech companies

Tech companies with over 1 million monthly users and $50 million in annual revenue must submit detailed reports to the Attorney General and FTC describing their child safety policies, tools, and the prevalence of exploitation on their platforms. These reports will be published publicly.

Upon enactment

New civil lawsuit rights become available to victims

Victims of child sexual exploitation can begin suing tech platforms and app stores that intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly hosted or promoted abuse material. There is no statute of limitations, and victims can seek $300,000 in liquidated damages plus punitive damages. Section 230 protections do not shield companies from these lawsuits.

Related News

4 articles
Politico·9 months ago

Senate Judiciary advances STOP CSAM Act

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the STOP CSAM Act, a bill that would allow victims of child pornography to sue companies that host their pictures and videos. Co-sponsored by Senators Josh Hawley and Dick Durbin, the bill expands reporting requirements for tech platforms.

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Axios·10 months ago

Exclusive: Bipartisan duo revives bill to fight online child pornography

Sens. Josh Hawley and Dick Durbin re-introduced legislation that would hold tech companies accountable for hosting child sex abuse material by targeting the Section 230 statute that shields platforms from liability for user-posted content.

C=
Washington Post·9 months ago

A bipartisan CSAM bill garners new criticism

The STOP CSAM Act aims to crack down on child sexual abuse material by allowing minors to sue companies that host such content. Critics from the ACLU and Internet Society warn that making companies liable for encrypted material could force providers to stop offering secure messaging services.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

STOP CSAM Act of 2025

Bill NumberS 1829
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionPlaced on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 106.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(12)
D: 6R: 6

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.