STOP CSAM Act of 2025
The STOP CSAM Act of 2025 is a Senate bill aimed at reducing the sexual exploitation of children by strengthening protections for child victims and witnesses in federal court, increasing accountability and transparency, and enhancing the restitution framework for victims. The text provided (which uses redactions in places) shows extensive amendments to federal law (primarily 18 U.S.C.) that expand definitions related to child abuse, psychological abuse, and exploitation; tighten protections for a “covered person” (a victim or witness who was under 18 at the time of the crime); and create new processes for safeguarding protected information, recording testimony, and facilitating restitution. A notable feature is the creation of trustee/v fiduciary mechanisms to manage restitution payments for young or vulnerable victims and for those outside the United States, along with stronger court authority to protect victims’ privacy and to ensure access to restitution. While the title signals tech industry accountability and CSAM response, the available text concentrates on victim safeguards, privacy protections, recording requirements, and restitution – with additional provisions (in the deleted portions) that would further address the tech industry’s role and the handling of CSAM content. Overall, if enacted, the bill would magnify protections for child victims in federal proceedings, require new victim-support and privacy safeguards, and bolster financial restitution to victims of CSAM-related offenses.
Key Points
- 1Strengthened protections for child victims and witnesses in federal court
- 2- Expands definitions around psychological abuse and exploitation.
- 3- Introduces broader protections for “protected information” of a child victim or other covered persons, and tightens rules against public disclosure.
- 4- Requires certain recording and handling practices for testimony (e.g., video recordings of depositions and the involvement of adult attendants to accompany covered persons).
- 5Expanded victim privacy and information protections
- 6- Establishes presumptions that public disclosure of a covered person’s protected information is detrimental, with strict standards for overcoming that presumption.
- 7- Clarifies who may access or disclose protected information and under what procedures, with enforcement mechanisms.
- 8Restitution enhancements and modernization of restitution statutes
- 9- Keeps restitution as a central remedy for offenses involving child pornography or exploitation, and expands the list of offenses for which restitution must be ordered.
- 10- Introduces precise restitution calculations and procedures, including how to handle victim losses and related amounts under various statutes.
- 11Fiduciary/trustee mechanisms for restitution payments
- 12- Courts may appoint a trustee or fiduciary to hold and manage restitution payments for the benefit of the victim.
- 13- Trustees must follow strict duties (avoid conflicts of interest, limit profit, ensure proper administration, and disclose fees).
- 14- Provisions exist for complex cases (foreign citizens or stateless victims, minor/vulnerable status, incapacitation) and for fee payment arrangements.
- 15Victim involvement in procedural processes and funding
- 16- Amplifies the role of guardians ad litem and multidisciplinary child abuse teams in presenting or informing the court about the child’s views and impact of the offense.
- 17- Authorizes certain appropriations to support these processes (notably an annual funding level and supervision of payments by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts).
- 18Effective date and scope
- 19- Amendments apply to conduct occurring before, on, or after enactment, indicating broad retroactive and prospective application.