Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios
Sen. Marsha Blackburn wants answers from the leaders of Microsoft, Google, Discord and X on why they're filing fewer reports of crimes against children now despite a law that requires the reports.
The big picture: The four companies have all submitted fewer reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline since the bipartisan REPORT Act was signed into law last year, per Blackburn's letters to the companies shared first with Axios.
- Recent Senate testimony from NCMEC's leaders cited a sharp drop in reports to the CyberTipline from all four companies, the letters state.
The REPORT Act requires tech companies to report crimes against children involving sex trafficking, grooming or the enticement of children for sexual acts to the CyberTipline.
- Previously, companies were only required to report child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).
What they're saying: "These reporting obligations are now mandatory, not permissive, and federal law requires you to submit reports of online enticement and child sex trafficking to the CyberTipline," Blackburn wrote, asking for a response from each platform by May 6.
- "[Google, Discord, Microsoft and X have] previously had a history of consistent reporting to the CyberTipline, and this notable decrease in reports to NCMEC is both puzzling and deeply troubling," Blackburn wrote.
- "It is crucial that your company fulfill its legal obligations to report these heinous crimes that occur on your platform. Our children deserve nothing less."
