Stop Sextortion Act | ChamberLight

IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS

Senate BillS 3398Crime and Law Enforcement

Stop Sextortion Act

INTRO DEC 9· LAST ACTION DEC 9

READING

4MIN

COSPONSORS

18BIPARTISAN

READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL

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Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

This bill matters because it addresses a significant and growing problem of online exploitation, where individuals are threatened with the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to extort money, services, or further abuse. Currently, existing laws primarily target the creation and distribution of CSAM, but the *threat* to distribute it, especially when the material might not even exist, can fall into a legal gray area.

If this bill becomes law, it will give law enforcement and prosecutors clearer and stronger tools to go after those who use these predatory tactics. This means better protection for potential victims, closing what many see as a loophole in current laws. If it doesn't become law, criminals who engage in sextortion may continue to exploit gaps in legislation, making it harder to prosecute and punish them effectively, leaving victims more vulnerable.

KEY PROVISIONS

3AI-extracted

PROVISION 01

Makes it a criminal offense to threaten to distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM) with the intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress to any person.

This provision closes a potential legal loophole by directly criminalizing the act of threatening, which is often a key component of sextortion.

PROVISION 02

Clarifies that the act of threatening to distribute CSAM is punishable even if the actual visual depiction (CSAM) does not exist.

This ensures that criminals cannot avoid prosecution by claiming the threatened material was fabricated or never existed, focusing on the harm of the threat itself.

PROVISION 03

Increases the maximum prison sentence by 10 years for certain existing offenses if they involve the knowing use of CSAM with the intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress.

This significantly stiffens the penalties for perpetrators who use CSAM as a weapon for intimidation and exploitation.

SPONSORSHIP

1 + 18

COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 94%

DEM 9 REP 8 IND 1

ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

DEC 9

Introduced in Senate

INTROREFERRAL

DEC 9

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

INTROREFERRAL

BILL INFO

TypeSenate Bill

NumberS 3398

Congress119th

StatusIn Committee

IntroducedDec 9, 2025

Last actionDec 9, 2025

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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · JUDICIARY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED DEC 9, 2025

Senate BillS 3398Crime and Law Enforcement

Stop Sextortion Act

INTRODUCED DEC 9, 2025· LAST ACTION DEC 9, 2025

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

4 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps Congress.gov

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 2 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed Senate

Passed House

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

Makes it a criminal offense to threaten to distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM) with the intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress to any person.

This provision closes a potential legal loophole by directly criminalizing the act of threatening, which is often a key component of sextortion.

high

Clarifies that the act of threatening to distribute CSAM is punishable even if the actual visual depiction (CSAM) does not exist.

This ensures that criminals cannot avoid prosecution by claiming the threatened material was fabricated or never existed, focusing on the harm of the threat itself.

high

This significantly stiffens the penalties for perpetrators who use CSAM as a weapon for intimidation and exploitation.

PENALTIES & ENFORCEMENT

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

TYPE	AMOUNT	WHO
criminal	Punishable as provided in existing law for child sexual abuse material offenses (sections 2252(b) and 2252A(b) of title 18, United States Code) for threats, and an additional 10 years imprisonment for certain offenses involving the knowing use of CSAM with intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress.	Individuals who threaten to distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or knowingly use CSAM with the intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress to any person.

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM): Any visual depiction (like a picture or video) that shows a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This term is often used interchangeably with 'child pornography' in legal contexts.
Extortion: The act of obtaining something, especially money, by force, threats, or other illegal means.
Coercion: The practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.
Title 18, United States Code: The part of U.S. federal law that deals with crimes and criminal procedure.
Sextortion: A form of online abuse where someone is blackmailed or coerced into sending sexual images or performing sexual acts, often under threat that existing private sexual images or videos will be shared publicly.
Visual depiction: A broad term that includes images, photos, videos, or any other form of visual media.

ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

DEC 9, 25

Introduced in Senate

INTROREFERRAL

DEC 9, 25

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

INTROREFERRAL

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Committee Referrals

Judiciary CommitteeReferred

Dec 9, 2025

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Judiciary Committee (senate)Feb 5, 2026

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Video

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Stop Sextortion Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

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