United States of America: Strengthening Transparency and Obligations to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment Act of 2023 (STOP CSAM Act/S. 1199) was rejected

On 3 January 2024, the 118th Congress concluded without passing the Strengthening Transparency and Obligations to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment Act of 2023 (STOP CSAM Act/S. 1199), which had been introduced in the United States Senate on 19 April 2023. The proposed Bill sought to amend the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 by expanding mandatory reporting requirements for child abuse, including adding computer repair technicians to the list of mandatory reporters. Additionally, it would have required entities to report apparent violations related to child exploitation or child pornography to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) CyberTipline within 60 days of obtaining actual knowledge. The bill also outlined civil penalties for noncompliance with these provisions. As the 118th Congress adjourned without enacting the measure, the Bill would need to be reintroduced in a subsequent Congress to be reconsidered.