The Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) has joined a letter to Congress advocating for proper funding to address child safety online. The letter emphasizes the importance of adequate resources for prosecutors and law enforcement to effectively investigate and prosecute child predators involved in online child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The letter cites a 2023 report by Stop Child Predators, revealing that law enforcement in 2022 could only investigate less than 1% of reported CSAM cases due to limited capacity and resources. SIIA urges policymakers to support the Invest in Child Safety Act of 2024 (S. 3689 | H.R. 7134), a bipartisan bill aimed at providing $5 billion in mandatory funding to investigate and target predators, along with additional support for community-based efforts and mental health professionals. SIIA remains committed to collaborating with Congress to ensure the safety of children online and support the prosecution of individuals involved in child exploitation.
The Software & Information Industry Association is one of the signatories on a lthe privacy, safety and security of children and students online.
This statement can be attributed to Sara Kloek, Vice President, Education and Children’s Policy, Software & Information Industry Association.
The Software & Information Industry Association is one of the signatories on a letter sent today in support of the Invest in Child Safety Act of 2024. The bipartisan legislation includes crucial funding for law enforcement and prosecutors to effectively investigate and prosecute the child predators and bad actors reported to them – a critical component to combating child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online. Indeed, a recent study found that law enforcement investigates less than 1% of all CSAM reports, largely due to a lack of resources. The bill also recognizes the mental health needs of victims and their families by providing funding and support for mental health professionals.
We encourage the full Congress to enact this important bill that is aligned with the mission of SIIA’s Keep Kids Safe and Connected campaign that advocates to protect the privacy, safety and security of children and students online.
