Show-Me State Times

U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Dick Durbin have reintroduced the STOP CSAM Act, a bill aimed at curbing the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online by enabling victims to sue companies that host such content. The legislation has garnered support from Senators Chuck Grassley, Amy Klobuchar, and Mark Kelly.

The announcement follows a joint hearing in February where witnesses affected by CSAM, including survivors and law enforcement experts, shared their experiences. Originally introduced last Congress, the bill had advanced unanimously through the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Senator Hawley stated, "Every day that Congress fails to protect kids online is another day that online predators can victimize children and steal their innocence—and social media companies are totally complicit." He emphasized the need for Congress to empower parents and victims with the right to sue these companies.

Senator Durbin highlighted the dangers children face in the virtual world: "In the real world, child safety is a top priority. But in the virtual world...they can harass, intimidate, addict, or sexually exploit our kids without leaving home." He criticized Big Tech's failure to self-regulate and expressed his commitment to partnering with Senator Hawley on this issue.

Hawley has been vocal about holding Big Tech accountable for protecting children online. Last year he questioned Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg regarding child exploitation on social media platforms. He also introduced legislation allowing private citizens to sue Big Tech platforms hosting CSAM. Despite efforts to advance this bipartisan bill with Senator Durbin's support, it was blocked on the Senate floor.