“In almost every aspect of the real world, child safety is a top priority.  But in the virtual world, criminals and bullies don’t need to pick a lock or wait outside the playground to cause harm.  They can harass, intimidate, addict, or sexually exploit our kids without anyone leaving home,” said Durbin.  “The system is failing our children and we, as lawmakers, need to address this head-on.  The STOP CSAM Act is a comprehensive approach to close gaps in the law and crack down on the proliferation of child sex abuse material online.  We need to protect our children and I look forward to working with my colleagues on this effort.”

“The failure to implement common sense child-safety processes has made child exploitation and abuse a feature of digital communication platforms.  The STOP CSAM Act recognizes the urgent need to restore accountability and transparency to this largely unregulated industry that continues to treat children as collateral damage in the race for innovation.  This legislation is a critical step towards creating the necessary safeguards to protect our children, and we applaud Senator Durbin for his leadership on this issue,” said ChildUSA Legal Director, Jessica Schidlow, Esq., MA, NCC.

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