Hawley Highlights Explosion of Online Child Sexual Abuse Material, Urges Action

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Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Today during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about protecting children online, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) highlighted the explosion of child sexual abuse material on the internet and urged immediate action to allow victims to hold Big Tech accountable.
“In 2023, there were 104 million images and videos of suspected child abuse material uploaded onto the internet, compared to 450,000 in 2004. So, 450,000 in 2004 to 104 million in the last full year for which we have data. Here’s another statistic, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the number of reports of child exploitation material went from one million, in 2014, to 36.2 million in 2023. In other words, it’s just an enormous explosion,”said Senator Hawley.
He continued, “It is past time that this Congress gave parents the ability to [sue Big Tech companies]… until Congress gives parents the ability to sue, nothing will change. These companies don’t care about fines, they don’t care about the regulations… what they fear are juries.”
Watch the full exchangehere, or click the video above.
Senator Hawley also pledged toreintroducehis Anti-CSAM legislation with Senator Durbin (D-Ill.), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Judiciary Committeeunanimously advancedthis legislation last Congress, but the bipartisan bill was eventuallyblockedon the Senate floor.Senator Hawley has been a tireless advocate for legislation holding Big Tech accountable and protecting kids online. Last year, Senator HawleypressedMeta CEO Mark Zuckerbergabout child exploitation on his social media platforms, urging Zuckerberg to stand up and apologize to the families of victims in the room.

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