This bill amends title 18 of the United States Code to strengthen protections against the exploitation of children. Its primary purpose is to criminalize the act of threatening to distribute child sexual abuse material with the intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress to any person. This new provision applies even in cases where the threatened visual depiction of child sexual abuse material does not actually exist, ensuring that the threat itself is punishable. Furthermore, the legislation significantly enhances penalties for offenses involving the knowing use of child sexual abuse material for coercive purposes. It mandates an additional 10-year increase in the maximum term of imprisonment for various existing federal crimes, such as child pornography offenses, when they involve the intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress. These amendments aim to deter and punish individuals who use such horrific material as a tool for blackmail and abuse, thereby expanding the scope of federal law to address "sextortion."
This bill amends title 18 of the United States Code to strengthen protections against the exploitation of children. Its primary purpose is to criminalize the act of threatening to distribute child sexual abuse material with the intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress to any person. This new provision applies even in cases where the threatened visual depiction of child sexual abuse material does not actually exist, ensuring that the threat itself is punishable. Furthermore, the legislation significantly enhances penalties for offenses involving the knowing use of child sexual abuse material for coercive purposes. It mandates an additional 10-year increase in the maximum term of imprisonment for various existing federal crimes, such as child pornography offenses, when they involve the intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress. These amendments aim to deter and punish individuals who use such horrific material as a tool for blackmail and abuse, thereby expanding the scope of federal law to address "sextortion."