Columbia Standard

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Josh Hawley have announced plans to reintroduce the STOP CSAM Act, a bipartisan effort aimed at combating the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online. This announcement coincides with a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing focused on child safety in digital spaces.

The proposed legislation would enable victims to take legal action against companies that host such material. The Judiciary Committee had previously advanced this bill unanimously in the last Congress session.

"Big Tech has woefully failed to police itself, and the American people are demanding that Congress intervene," said Senator Durbin. He emphasized the progress made last year in addressing Big Tech's shortcomings in protecting children online, noting five unanimous bipartisan votes on related bills within the Senate Judiciary Committee. "I’m glad to partner with Senator Hawley to soon reintroduce our bill supporting victims of child sexual abuse material and increasing accountability for tech companies, and I encourage all my colleagues to join us."

Senator Hawley expressed urgency regarding legislative action, stating, "Congress has already waited too long to protect kids online and while we’ve stalled social media companies have continued to be hubs for child sexual abuse material. We can’t waste any more time." He advocated for empowering parents and victims by allowing them to hold companies accountable through lawsuits.

Durbin has prioritized child safety online through his role on the Senate Judiciary Committee by conducting hearings, drafting legislation, and overseeing related efforts. On January 31, 2024, under his chairmanship, the committee held a hearing with CEOs from major social media platforms including Discord, Meta, Snap, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter), underscoring the risks faced by children online.

In addition to these efforts, Durbin's DEFIANCE Act passed the Senate in July 2024. This bipartisan legislation targets those responsible for creating nonconsensual sexually explicit "deepfake" images and videos. The availability of such content is rapidly increasing as technology becomes more accessible.