Federal bill makes threatening to share child abuse images a crime even without proof material exists

What does this do?

S 3398, the Stop Sextortion Act, makes it a federal crime to threaten to share child sexual abuse material even if no such images actually exist. The bill also increases maximum prison sentences by up to 10 additional years for offenders who knowingly use such material to harm, control, or manipulate a victim. These sentencing enhancements apply across several existing federal child exploitation laws.

Who does it affect?

The bill targets predators and criminals who use real or fabricated threats involving child sexual abuse material to blackmail or control victims. It primarily affects child and teenage victims who are targeted online, and it gives law enforcement clearer federal legal tools to prosecute these cases.

Why does it matter?

Current federal law focuses on people who actually possess or distribute child sexual abuse material, leaving a gap for those who only threaten to use it. Closing this loophole means prosecutors could pursue charges based on the threat alone, regardless of whether any material exists.

Where does it stand?