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REPORT Act

Source: Congress.gov  ·  1,527 words in original text
This bill strengthens how online platforms report child sexual abuse material to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. It protects certain people and companies from lawsuits when they report this content and requires platforms to keep reports for longer periods.
Online service providers and platforms that host user content. Companies hired by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to handle reports. Individuals shown in child sexual abuse material who report it themselves or through a legal representative.
• Online platforms must now report suspected sex trafficking of children and enticement of minors to the CyberTipline, in addition to child sexual abuse material (Sec. 4(a)). • Companies hired by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children get protection from lawsuits when handling child sexual abuse material reports, unless they act with intentional misconduct, recklessness, or actual malice (Sec. 2(d)). • Reports to the CyberTipline must be preserved for 1 year instead of 90 days (Sec. 3). • Companies hired by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children must secure all material using current cybersecurity standards and undergo yearly security audits (Sec. 2(d)(3)). • Individuals shown as minors in child sexual abuse material can report that material without facing lawsuits, unless they engaged in intentional misconduct or violations (Sec. 2(e)).
Platforms now report more types of child exploitation crimes. Companies storing and handling reports receive legal protection in more situations. Reported content stays on file longer, giving investigators more time to act. All vendors handling sensitive material must follow stricter cybersecurity requirements.
The bill defines "representative" as a parent, legal guardian, court-appointed guardian, hired lawyer, estate representative, or mandatory reporter under the Victims of Child Abuse Act. A representative cannot be someone who committed crimes related to child sexual abuse (Sec. 2(e)(4)).
This law applies to any lawsuit or criminal charge filed on or after May 7, 2024. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has 180 days from enactment to issue guidelines on identifying sex trafficking content (Sec. 4(b)).
Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.