Federal law now criminalizes sextortion threats targeting minors
S. 3704 — COP Act · Filed by Ashley Moody (R-FL) · Introduced Jan 27, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill amends federal law to criminalize threats to minors involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Specifically, it makes it a federal crime to threaten to distribute CSAM or images of someone believed to be a minor engaging in sexual conduct, with intent to coerce the minor into creating or transmitting such material. This targets sextortion and online predation tactics where perpetrators use threats as leverage.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative mechanism is adding criminal prohibitions targeting sextortion and online predation tactics. It is a straightforward public-safety amendment to existing child-protection statutes.
What the text implies
- The bill criminalizes threats based on the defendant's belief that the target is a minor, not just actual minors—this may capture cases involving adults impersonating minors in sting operations or catfishing scenarios, potentially affecting law enforcement tactics.
- Prosecution requires proving intent that the minor 'create or transmit' CSAM, which may create evidentiary burdens in cases where the threat is made but no material is ultimately produced.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill strengthens criminal penalties against a specific predatory tactic (sextortion via CSAM threats) that directly harms minors. It closes a gap in existing law by making the threat itself prosecutable, not just possession or distribution of material.