Rep. Ann Wagner
Victims of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) could hold online platforms accountable in both state and federal courts for distributing images and videos of their abuse under a bipartisan bill proposed by U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO).
The Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies (EARN IT) Act, H.R. 2732, which Rep. Wagner sponsored on April 19 alongside eight original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. David Valadao (R-CA), Blake Moore (R-UT), Ken Calvert (R-CA), and Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), also would give state prosecutors the ability to enforce their child sexual abuse laws, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
If enacted, H.R. 2732 “will give victims the ability to hold online platforms accountable for facilitating the distribution and sale of these horrific images and videos of child sexual abuse,” Rep. Wagner said. “This is an ongoing and unacceptable crisis, and we must immediately pass this legislation to reverse these terrifying trends.”
Additionally, H.R. 2732 would enhance reporting to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline and update language so that such crimes are referred to as child sexual abuse, rather than child pornography, the summary says.
“Last year, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received over 32 million reports of online CSAM, currently referred to as ‘child pornography,’” said Rep. Wagner. “Thirty-two million reports of images and videos depicting the rape and sexual abuse of vulnerable children circulating freely online — it is absolutely unconscionable.”
The congresswoman noted that this data is an 89 percent increase from pre-pandemic levels. “It is long past time for Congress to take action to ensure the victims of this abuse can seek justice for their exploitation and trauma,” she said.
The bill is supported by the NCMEC, RAINN, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, the Missouri Coalition Against Trafficking and Exploitation, Crisis Aid International, the Youth Power Project, and many CSAM survivors.
“Ensuring the safety of children is one of my top priorities,” said Rep. Sylvia Garcia, the bill’s lead original cosponsor. “It is imperative to use the full extent of the law to hold accountable those who exploit children or violate laws related to child sexual abuse.”