Washington, DC (Friday, June 13, 2025)—RAINN proudly endorses the Strengthening Transparency and Obligations to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment (STOP CSAM) Act of 2025 and urges Congress to pass this critical legislation without delay.
Child sexual abuse material (CSAM), whether in photos, videos, livestreams, or AI-generated images, represents one of the most egregious forms of abuse and exploitation. The STOP CSAM Act sends a powerful and overdue message: the sexual exploitation of children will not be tolerated, and those individuals or platforms that perpetuate or enable it will be held accountable.
This bipartisan legislation from sponsors Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chuck Grassley (D-IA), and Mark Kelly (R-AZ) introduces long-needed reforms that strengthen protections for survivors, promote accountability in the tech industry, and expand pathways to justice:
- Enhanced protections in federal court, including stricter privacy safeguards and legal advocacy for child survivors;
- Mandatory restitution and financial safeguards to ensure survivors directly receive court-ordered payments;
- New accountability standards for tech companies, including mandatory reporting, steep penalties for non-compliance, and public transparency reporting;
- Expanded civil remedies, giving survivors the right to take legal action directly against platforms that enable or host CSAM with no statute of limitations;
- Clear guidelines on encryption, balancing privacy protections with uncompromising obligations to report CSAM.
For too long, survivors of online child sexual abuse have faced enormous barriers in seeking justice. The STOP CSAM Act is a major step toward correcting that injustice. It empowers survivors, incentivizes prevention, and puts the responsibility squarely where it belongs: on the platforms and institutions capable of stopping the spread of this material.
RAINN calls on lawmakers, advocates, and the public to stand with survivors by supporting the passage of the STOP CSAM Act. Together, we can ensure that survivors are seen, supported, and safeguarded, and that those who exploit them are held fully accountable.
About RAINN
RAINN, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization, created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, help organizations improve their sexual assault prevention and response programs, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and en Español is available. Call 800.656.HOPE (4673), chat at hotline.RAINN.org, or text HOPE to 64673.
Contact:
media@rainn.org