Technology

Senator Jon Ossoff-backed law drives massive spike in child exploitation reports from big tech platforms

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Kristian Thorne
Official Publisher

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A new bipartisan law tied to Senator Jon Ossoff is being credited with a sharp rise in reported child exploitation cases from major tech companies.

The law requires big platforms to report suspected child enticement crimes and preserve evidence for investigators, leading to a major increase in federal CyberTipline reports.


WHAT HAPPENED

The REPORT Act was passed in 2024 with bipartisan support from Senator Jon Ossoff and Senator Marsha Blackburn.

It requires major tech companies to report suspected child enticement and exploitation activity to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Companies must also preserve evidence and face penalties if they fail to comply.

After the law took effect, reporting from major platforms rose sharply.


FACT BOX

What the data shows

  • CyberTipline reports (2023): 8,480
  • CyberTipline reports (2025): 105,877
  • Increase: over 1,100%
  • Law passed: 2024 REPORT Act
  • Applies to: major tech platforms including Google, Meta, Amazon, Apple

THE BIGGER QUESTION

The surge in reports raises two possible realities.

One is that online abuse cases are growing fast.

The other is that enforcement and reporting tools are now catching what was previously missed.

Either way, the system is now producing far more visibility into crimes that often stayed hidden online.



WHAT HAPPENS NOW

Law enforcement agencies are now dealing with a much larger volume of CyberTipline reports.

This could lead to more investigations, but also heavier strain on federal and local resources.

Tech companies are expected to continue adjusting compliance systems as enforcement expands.


WHAT WE STILL DO

N’T KNOW

  • How many of the reports led to confirmed cases
  • Whether the increase reflects new crime or better detection
  • How quickly law enforcement can process the backlog

Transparency notes

Published: May 29, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.

Spot an error or missing context? Email hi@kindjoe.com and we will review and correct if needed.

Sources

External source links were not provided in this article body. Our editors reference publicly available materials and update stories as new verified information arrives.

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