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09.11.24

Durbin calls for passage of his STOP CSAM Act, DEFIANCE Act and Child Marriage Prevention Act before Roundtable on Anti-Human Trafficking Policy

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke at the Anti-Trafficking Policy Roundtable (ATIP), a biennial meeting sponsored by Street Grace that brings together leaders from influential anti-trafficking organizations, law firms, survivor advocates, and key Congressional representatives who have demonstrated their commitment to this cause and to advancing anti-trafficking policy.

Durbin provided updates on his efforts to combat child exploitation and human trafficking, including the STOP CSAM Actthe DEFIANCE Actand the Child Marriage Prevention Act 2024.

Key Quotes:

“The risks women and children face online – grooming, recruitment for trafficking, sextortion, CSAM, AI-generated pornography and non-consensual intimate images – are staggering. The intersection of child abuse, sexual abuse and technology has created a public health crisis that is overwhelming our most vulnerable.”

“Thanks to the hard work of many of you in this room, the Senate Judiciary Committee, which I chair, unanimously reported five bills on the online sexual exploitation of children to the Senate floor last year. That includes my STOP CSAM Actwhich would finally subject online platforms to civil liability for the intentional or wilful hosting or storage of child abuse material or making it available. I appreciate the expressions of support from many of your organizations.”

“Earlier this summer I submitted another one of my bills: the DEFIANCE Actthat will give victims of non-consensual, sexually explicit deepfakes their day in court, unanimously approved by the Senate. These steps are evidence that the days of Big Tech policing itself may soon be coming to an end.”

“Regardless of our political differences, we can all agree that the escalation of online harm to our children is appalling and something must be done.”

“I will keep pushing until the DEFIANCE ACT and the STOP CSAM Act are the law of the land, and I will work with my colleagues on any other measures that will make the internet safer for all of us, especially the most vulnerable.”

“Child marriages especially affect underage girls who marry adult men, often with devastating consequences. Thanks to the tireless work of survivor advocates and leaders like you, 13 states have set the minimum marriage age at 18, without exception. But unless all states take action, the patchwork of state laws will continue to put all children, especially girls, at risk.”

“Federal leadership is needed to end child marriage in this country altogether. That is why I have Child Marriage Prevention Act last month, which took significant steps to end child marriage in all 50 states.”

Durbin and the Senate Judiciary Committee have helped lead Congress in efforts to curb child sexual exploitation. Among other things, Durbin has introduced:

• STOP CSAM Actthat supports victims and increases accountability and transparency for online platforms and awaits a vote in the Senate;
• DEFIANCE Act, will hold accountable those responsible for the distribution of non-consensual, sexually explicit “deepfake” images and videos, as passed by the Senate; and
• Child Marriage Prevention Actwho would take measures to reduce child marriage in the United States.

Street Grace, the event’s sponsor and an organization focused on ending child exploitation, has STOP CSAM Act and the DEFIANCE Act.

For an overview of the Committee’s efforts to protect children online, including descriptions of legislation under consideration and a timeline of events, please visit this webpage.

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