WASHINGTON D.C., DC — A bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff to improve improve protections for children from online sexual exploitation passed the Senate on Thursday.
According to a release from Sen. Ossoff's office, the REPORT Act, which was introduced by Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn, will improve the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children tipline and strengthen evidence preservation for online exploitation cases.
Other elements of the bill, according to the release, including requiring websites and social media platforms to report crimes involving trafficking and enticement of children as well as increase fines for companies that knowingly fail to report child sex abuse material.
“My bipartisan bill will ensure tech companies are held accountable to report and remove child sex abuse material and to strengthen protection for kids online,” Ossoff said in a statement. “At a time of such division in Congress, we brought Republicans and Democrats together to pass this urgent legislation to protect kids on the internet.”
The president and CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Michelle DeLaune, said in a statement that passing the REPORT Act would be a "critical step in the right direction as we continue to combat the rise of online child sexual exploitation."
"We look forward to continuing our work with Senator Blackburn and Senator Ossoff to ensure the safety of children online, and we encourage House Leadership to join the fight and bring the REPORT Act to the floor for a vote. (The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) is eager to see this timely legislation become law because every child deserves a safe childhood," DeLaune added.
A similar bill, introduced by Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, was passed last year but held in the House.
It's unclear when or if the House will take action on the REPORT Act.
