H.R. 3921: Strengthening Transparency and Obligations to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment Act of 2025

The Strengthening Transparency and Obligations to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment Act of 2025 aims to create stronger protections for child victims of abuse and exploitation, particularly in the context of federal courts and online platforms. The bill includes several key provisions focused on enhancing accountability for technology companies and supporting victims.

Enhanced Reporting Obligations

One of the main features of the bill is the requirement for online service providers to report any suspected cases of child sexual exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) within a 60-day timeframe. This section details:

• The specific contents that need to be included in these reports.
• The penalties that online providers could face for failing to comply or for providing false information.
• Conditions under which these providers may have limited liability.

Civil Remedies for Victims

In addition to reporting obligations, the bill establishes civil remedies for victims of child pornography and sexual exploitation. Key aspects include:

• Victims are allowed to file lawsuits against online platforms and app stores, irrespective of when the exploitation occurred.
• Damages that may be awarded to victims, which can include compensatory and punitive damages.
• No statute of limitations will be applied to these claims, meaning victims can seek justice regardless of when the abuse took place.

Support for Victims

The bill aims to improve support mechanisms for victims of online exploitation, ensuring they receive necessary assistance and resources while navigating the judicial system.

Overall Intent

The overarching goal of the legislation is to strengthen protections for vulnerable children and hold online platforms accountable for their role in preventing and addressing child exploitation. This focuses on creating a more transparent and responsible system in which both victims and potential abuses are better managed.

Relevant Companies

• GOOGL - Google, which runs various online platforms and services, may face increased liabilities and report obligations under the new law.
• FB - Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook) could be significantly impacted by the increased requirements for reporting and potential civil liabilities related to user-generated content.
• AMZN - Amazon, particularly regarding its app store and platform for digital content, may face civil remedies claims from victims of exploitation that occurred through applications distributed on its platform.