Show-Me State Times

In a recent Judiciary Committee subcommittee hearing, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, called for swift legislative action to combat online child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Alongside Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Senator Hawley urged the committee to pass the STOP CSAM Act to enhance protections for children online.

Senator Hawley highlighted the alarming increase in online child exploitation material, noting that victims currently lack legal recourse against Big Tech companies that allow such content on their platforms. "Today, there are more than 104 million known reported images of child sexual abuse online. This is truly a crisis. It is an epidemic," stated Senator Hawley.

He further emphasized the need for victims to have their day in court, asserting, "One of the most fundamental rights we have as Americans is to get our day in court, get in front of a jury, and vindicate the personal rights given to us by our Constitution."

The senator criticized Big Tech companies for not taking sufficient action against CSAM despite their substantial profits in 2023. He remarked, "Don’t tell me Big Tech companies don’t have the wherewithal financially to disrupt, detect, and report. They absolutely do."

The hearing featured testimonies from survivors, advocates, and law enforcement experts impacted by CSAM. The witness list included Michelle DeLaune from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children; John Tanagho from the International Justice Mission; Gregory Schiller from Child Rescue Coalition; survivor advocate Taylor Sines; and John Pizzuro from Raven.

Senator Hawley's push comes after the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously advanced the bill last Congress. The STOP CSAM Act has been reintroduced this year as part of ongoing efforts to address this pressing issue.