ECCHO Act
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This bill would establish federal crimes for the online coercion of minors to commit harm and require providers to report such incidents.
What it does
This bill would establish federal criminal offenses for intentionally coercing a minor to commit various harmful acts, including self-harm, arson, and violence against people or animals. It proposes requiring electronic communication and remote computing service providers to report instances of online minor coercion to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Additionally, the legislation would expand legal protections for minors testifying in court and facilitate the federal prosecution of individuals involved in child exploitation enterprises.
Who is affected
This bill affects minors who are victims of or witnesses to online coercion, including those who testify in court regarding mental injury or negligent treatment. It also impacts electronic communication service providers and remote computing service providers, who would be required to report instances of online coercion to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Additionally, the legislation targets individuals and child exploitation enterprises involved in the intentional coercion of minors to commit harmful acts.
Key provisions
- Establishment of new criminal offenses for online coercion. The bill criminalizes the intentional online coercion of minors to commit or attempt various harmful acts, including suicide, homicide, arson, doxxing, swatting, or physical harm to people and animals.
- Mandatory reporting requirements for service providers. Electronic communication and remote computing service providers are required to report instances of online minor coercion to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children via the CyberTipline.
- Enhanced federal prosecution authorities. The legislation facilitates the federal prosecution of individuals involved in child exploitation enterprises and establishes guidelines for the prosecution of minors under certain circumstances.
- Expansion of court protections for minor victims and witnesses. Privacy and other legal protections for minors testifying in court are extended to include victims of or witnesses to crimes involving mental injury or negligent treatment.
Fiscal impact
Not applicable: No CBO cost estimate available
Effective dates
Not applicable: Official Summary does not address effective dates
Relationship to existing law
The bill expands existing reporting requirements for electronic communication and remote computing service providers by requiring them to report instances of online coercion of minors to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. It also extends existing federal privacy and court protections for minor witnesses to include cases involving mental injury or negligent treatment of a child.
Stated purpose
The bill aims to establish a federal framework to combat the online coercion of minors to commit harm by creating new criminal offenses, expanding reporting requirements for service providers, and facilitating the prosecution of offenders. It also seeks to enhance legal protections for minors who testify in court as victims or witnesses of crimes involving mental injury or neglect.