If you run a website, app, or messaging platform, this bill puts you on the hook for how you handle child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Providers would be required to report any known CSAM to the national CyberTipline within 60 days — and large platforms (those with over 1 million monthly users and $50 million in annual revenue) would also have to file detailed annual transparency reports on what they're doing to protect kids. Criminal fines for failing to report range from $600,000 to $1 million per violation depending on platform size, and civil penalties can be tripled if someone is harmed. The bill also creates a new law making it a federal crime for any interactive computer service to intentionally host CSAM or knowingly help facilitate child exploitation, with fines up to $5 million. Survivors gain a powerful new tool: the right to sue platforms and app stores directly for hosting or promoting exploitative material, with $300,000 in minimum damages per case and no statute of limitations — and the bill explicitly says Section 230 immunity cannot be used to block these lawsuits. The bill states that using end-to-end encryption is not by itself grounds for liability, but it does allow encryption choices to be introduced as evidence of intent or motive in court, which civil liberties groups have flagged as a potential pressure point that could discourage platforms from offering strong encryption. Providers are not required to proactively scan users' messages or files, though the broad definition of covered platforms — borrowed from Section 230 — could sweep in smaller websites and open-source projects alongside the tech giants the bill is clearly aimed at.
Civil Liberties
- Section 230 immunity — Removed for platforms knowingly hosting or facilitating CSAM
- Encryption as litigation evidence — End-to-end encryption admissible as evidence of intent or motive
- Platform monitoring pressure — Civil-suit exposure creates incentive to scan user content despite no proactive-scan requirement
- Victim civil-suit rights — Direct cause of action created against platforms and app stores
- Statute of limitations on victim civil claims — Removed entirely for covered suits
Criminal Justice & Due Process
- Federal criminal liability for interactive computer services — New offense for intentional hosting or knowing facilitation of child exploitation
- Criminal fines for reporting failures — $600,000 to $1 million per violation depending on platform size
Transparency & Accountability
- CyberTipline reporting requirement — Providers must report known CSAM within 60 days
- Annual transparency reports — Required for platforms over 1M monthly users and $50M revenue
Congressional Summary
Strengthening Transparency and Obligations to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment Act of 2025 or the STOP CSAM Act of 2025This bill revises the federal framework governing the prevention of online child sexual exploitation to expand protections for victims, expand requirements for electronic communication service providers and remote computing service providers (providers), and expand related penalties and remedies.The bill extends protections for child victims and witnesses who testify in federal court (e.g., privacy protections) to child victims and witnesses of kidnapping offenses and to child victims and witnesses who were under 18 years of age at the time of the crime, even if they are 18 or older at the time of court proceedings.Additionally, the bill establishes statutory procedures for courts to appoint a trustee to hold restitution payments for certain victims (e.g., minor victims) of offenses involving human trafficking, sexual abuse, child sexual abuse material, illegal sexual activity and related crimes, or crimes of violence.The bill requires providers to report online child sexual exploitation to the CyberTipline (i.e., the national reporting system for online child sexual exploitation) within 60 days. Reports must include specified information, such as information about repeat offenders. The bill establishes criminal and civil penalties for providers who fail to comply with the requirements.Finally, the bill prohibits providers from hosting or storing child pornography or knowingly facilitating the sexual exploitation of children and allows victims to pursue civil remedies.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Reported to Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-06-26
- Date Added
- 2026-04-06
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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