The REPORT Act has already passed the Senate and awaits the president’s signature
WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 30, 2024 – The End Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children (OSEAC) Coalition, a group of organizations committed to advocacy to further policies that protect children online, applauds yesterday’s passage of the Revising Existing Procedures On Reporting via Technology Act (REPORT Act) in the House of Representatives. This landmark legislation has already passed the Senate, representing a significant leap forward in protecting kids online.
The REPORT Act strengthens procedures for reporting suspected online child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) to the CyberTipline operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). In the past three years, the CyberTipline has experienced a 20% increase in the total volume of reports, and time-sensitive reports surged by more than 140%.
“Law enforcement experts and victims advocates agree advancements in technology have led to an explosion of images depicting child sexual abuse available and distributed online. Demand for new and more egregious photos and videos drives the market for this material, resulting in the continued grotesque abuse and exploitation of children, said Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04). “By making updates to the law, the REPORT Act will help law enforcement evolve with this threat as consumption of child sexual abuse content permeates new technology spaces.”
“From a lived experience and survivors perspective, we are relieved that this important piece of legislation, the REPORT Act, will be in place to help protect and support victimized children, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” said Jajaira Overton, End OSEAC Survivors Council Chair. “It’s one small step toward a safer online experience for all!”
“The REPORT Act represents a collaborative effort between lawmakers from both political parties to embrace solutions to this horrific form of child sex trafficking, abuse and exploitation,” said Coco Lammers, Director of the End OSEAC Coalition. “Its adoption marks a significant milestone in the journey toward protecting kids from a multitude of online harms.”
The bipartisan bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Laurel Lee (R-FL-15), Susie Lee (D-NV-03), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01), and Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04). A companion bill in the Senate (S.474) was introduced by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA). The bill passed in the Senate on Dec. 14, 2023, with an amendment by unanimous consent.
“The amount of children being exploited online has risen to an epidemic level. The passing of the Report Act will allow for the electronic transmission of victims and retention of records for a longer period to identify victims and locate offenders,” said Raven CEO and Co-Founder John Pizzuro, who serves as the coalition’s Domestic Policy Committee Chair. “We are thankful for the passing of this important piece of legislation but urge Congress that it’s only a start.”
The End OSEAC Coalition urges President Biden to move quickly in signing this bill into law. With a host of other online child safety bills at various stages of the legislative process, the End OSEAC Coalition implores Congress to move on the following to #ProtectKidsOnline: EARN IT Act (S.1207 / H.R.2732), KOSA (S.1409), SHIELD Act (S.412 / H.R.3686), and STOP CSAM Act (S.1199 / H.R.7949).
About the End OSEAC CoalitionThe End Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children (OSEAC) Coalition is a U.S. advocacy coalition that aims to improve U.S. government policies and programs to better prevent and address online sexual exploitation and abuse of children and provide appropriate support to survivors. Learn more about our mission to #ProtectKidsOnline: endoseac.org.
