Federal bill makes sextortion threats against minors a standalone crime
In committeeS. 3704Latest action
Sponsor: Ashley Moody · Senator · FL
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: COP Act
119th Congress
Topics: Crime & justice
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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S 3704 makes it a federal crime to threaten a minor with releasing sexual images to pressure them into producing more.
50-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
S 3704 makes it a federal crime to threaten a minor with the distribution of child sexual abuse material, even if no images are actually shared. The bill targets sextortion, a tactic where predators threaten to release sexual images of a child unless that child produces and sends more sexual content. It covers threats made against real minors and against people the offender believes are minors.
Who does it affect?
The bill most directly affects online predators who use these threats to coerce children, making that behavior a federal offense. It also affects targeted minors, law enforcement, and parents or guardians of children who use the internet.
Why does it matter?
Federal law already criminalized producing, distributing, and possessing child sexual abuse material, but did not explicitly cover the act of threatening to distribute it as a coercive tool. This bill closes that gap, giving law enforcement a clearer legal basis to prosecute this specific behavior.
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Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedJan 27, 2026
- Senate committeeYou are here · Jan 27, 2026
- Senate vote
- House
- The president's desk
Right now: a Senate committee is reviewing it. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.