Dear Senators Blackburn and Ossoff,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for S.474, the “Revising Existing Procedures on Reporting via Technology (REPORT) Act.”
The REPORT Act aims to improve the reporting and prosecution of those taking part in the online sexual exploitation of children in the United States. Identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those who prey on the most vulnerable in our society should be a priority, and we believe that this bill provides the tools law enforcement needs to stop these predators.
Due to the increasing number of children and teens online, it has become increasingly easy for predators to exploit and victimize them. The CyberTipline, run by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, is a critical tool for law enforcement, but, as technology advances, so do the methods of exploitation and the threats our children are exposed to online. This legislation provides the CyberTipline with the necessary resources and infrastructure needed to protect our nation’s children from digital exploitation.
Firstly, mandatory reporting requirements are implemented to ensure that companies report all child sexual abuse materials on their platform. The bill also expands the number of crimes that are under the mandatory reporting rule to include enticement and trafficking of children. In addition, records maintained of these infractions online will be kept and maintained for a longer period of time. Lastly, failure to report these violations will result in increased fines for the organization in question.
On behalf of the more than 367,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I thank you both for your leadership on this critical issue. If I can provide any additional assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President