Coalition Letter In Support of the Invest in Child Safety Act of 2024

February 27, 2024

Dear Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell,

As conversations about children’s online safety continue, we want to reiterate an important and practical component to that shared goal: proper funding for prosecutors and law enforcement to effectively investigate and prosecute the child predators and bad actors reported to them. Adequate funding is a critical measure to combating child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online and holding these criminals accountable.

A 2023 report released by Stop Child Predators found that in 2022, law enforcement only had the capacity and resources to investigate less than 1% of all reports of CSAM received by the CyberTipline. Unfortunately, many laws aimed at combating CSAM do not include proper funding for enforcing such laws. The lack of funding results in law enforcement agencies being overwhelmed by the amount of material and unable to properly identify and prosecute bad actors.

We encourage policymakers to enact the Invest in Child Safety Act of 2024 (S. 3689 | H.R.
7134), a bipartisan bill introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
and co-sponsored in the Senate by Sens. Peter Welch (D-VT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and in the House by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Don Bacon (R-NE) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX). This legislation would direct resources where they are most needed, including $5 billion in mandatory funding to investigate and target the predators and abusers who create and share child sexual abuse material online and substantial new funding for vital community-based efforts to prevent children from becoming victims in the first place. While it is crucial that law enforcement receive these critical resources to protect children online, the bill goes further and recognizes the mental health needs of victims and their families by providing funding and support for mental health professionals.

We know that children’s safety online will continue to be a top priority for Congress, and we want to ensure that the conversation includes finding ways to support prosecutors and law enforcement authorities responsible for investigating and prosecuting these horrific crimes. We remain committed to working with Members to find solutions that protect children, support victims and bring bad actors to justice.

Respectfully,

Center for Democracy and Technology
Chamber of Progress
Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA)
Internet Infrastructure Coalition
Internet Works
NetChoice
Organization for Transformative Works
R Street Institute
Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA)
Stop Child Predators
TechFreedom
TechNet

See the original letter below: