Three new policy solutions for ending online exploitation.


** Policy Solutions For Building A Safer Internet
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The EARN IT Act Virtual Congressional Briefing
Tuesday, February 8 at 4 p.m. EST
Register Here ([link removed])

For over a decade, ECPAT-USA has advocated for legislation that protects children from online exploitation, and we applaud Congress for deterring child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on the internet through robust policy solutions. With Safer Internet Day being recognized this week on Feb. 8, we would like to highlight three critical bills currently in Congress, the Child RESCUE Act ([link removed]) , the END Child Exploitation Act ([link removed]) , and the EARN IT Act of 2022 ([link removed]) , which address the increased risks many children face online.

Online sexual exploitation and abuse are two of the fastest-growing crimes against children in this country, and law enforcement and investigative entities need tools to combat these horrible offenses. Introduced by Representative Abigail Spanberger, the CHILD Rescue Act ([link removed]) would require the U.S. Attorney General’s office to establish a national working group for studying policing strategies and identifying appropriate resources to prevent child sexual exploitation and abuse online.

ECPAT-USA also strongly supports the Eliminate Network Distribution (END) of Child Exploitation Act, introduced by Representative Anthony Gonzalez. This bipartisan ([link removed]) legislation requires technology companies to save records about CSAM for a longer time period and to report suspicious content to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). This is crucial as companies like Google and Facebook are currently only required to hold content for 90 days after reporting, which poses significant procedural barriers for law enforcement agencies across the country. Allowing law enforcement more time to assess and analyze CSAM reports enables officials to identify and apprehend criminals online.

Lastly, Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal and Representatives Sylvia Garcia and Ann Wagner recently introduced the Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies (EARN IT) Act. The bill would create a National Commission on Online Child Sexual Exploitation Prevention and hold website platforms and social media companies accountable for CSAM on their sites.

We urgently need these laws to protect our kids. Reports to NCMEC’s CyberTipline ([link removed]) increased by 28% from 2019-2020, rising from 16.9 million to 21.7 million reports. As the internet continues to evolve, predators have become more skilled in targeting children to share sexually exploitative images. Ending online exploitation requires proactive intervention and increased government oversight, and ECPAT-USA will continue to support legislation that strengthens existing laws and provides services for survivors.

You can get involved by joining Nina DeJonghe, ECPAT-USA's Director of Public Policy, at a special virtual Congressional briefing ([link removed]) on Feb. 8 at 4 p.m. EST, held by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. The event will focus on the EARN IT Act, as well as other legislation to end online exploitation.
REGISTER NOW ([link removed])

Learn more about cases related to these issues across the country that recently made headlines:
* Justice Department Awards Nearly $87 Million To Combat Human Trafficking And Help Victims ([link removed]) : ([link removed]) The Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) announced almost $87 million in funding to combat human trafficking, provide supportive services to trafficking survivors throughout the United States, and conduct research into the nature and causes of labor and sex trafficking.

* U.S. Attorney Highlights 2021 Human Trafficking Cases to Bring Awareness During Human Trafficking Prevention Month ([link removed]) : United States Attorney Michael Easley, in recognition of Human Trafficking Prevention Month, highlights some of the significant Human Trafficking cases his office prosecuted in 2021. Links to press releases with more details on these cases are also provided.

* Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Sex-Trafficking During Miami Super Bowl ([link removed]) : A Connecticut man who coerced two women and a girl into selling themselves for sex in Miami during Super Bowl LIV was sentenced in Florida to 25 years imprisonment.

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ECPAT-USA is the leading policy organization in the United States seeking to end the commercial, sexual exploitation of children through awareness, advocacy, policy, and legislation. Join us ([link removed]) .

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