Plain Language Summary
# ECCHO Act Summary The **ECCHO Act** (Ending Coercion of Children and Harm Online) is a proposed federal law designed to protect minors from online exploitation and coercion. If passed, it would create new criminal offenses specifically targeting adults who use the internet to pressure minors into harming themselves or others. These crimes include coercing a child to attempt suicide, commit violence, harm animals, or engage in dangerous acts like arson, doxxing (releasing private information), or swatting (making false emergency calls). Violators could face fines and prison time. The bill affects tech companies, law enforcement, and minors involved in these cases.
Key provisions require internet service providers and tech companies to report instances of online coercion to authorities, and expand legal protections for minors who testify in court—such as allowing them to give testimony via video rather than in person. These measures aim to make it easier to identify offenders and encourage minors to come forward. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. It was introduced by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) in the 119th Congress.
CRS Official Summary
Ending Coercion of Children and Harm Online or the ECCHO ActThis bill establishes a federal framework to combat the online coercion of minors to commit harm. The bill creates new criminal offenses, expands reporting of instances involving the online coercion of minors, facilitates the prosecution of offenders, and expands protections for minors who testify in court.Specifically, the bill makes it a crime to intentionally coerce a minor tocommit suicide (or attempt to);kill someone (or attempt to);kill a pet, emotional support animal, service animal, or horse (or attempt to);physically harm an individual (including the minor), pet, emotional support animal, service animal, or horse; orcommit (or attempt to commit) arson or certain other acts such as doxxing or swatting.A violation (or conspiracy or attempt to commit a violation) is subject to a fine, a prison term, or both.The bill requires electronic communication service providers and remote computing service providers to report instances of online coercion of minors to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children via the CyberTipline.The bill facilitates the federal prosecution of offenses committed by (1) individuals as part of a child exploitation enterprise, and (2) minors in certain circumstances.The bill extends various protections for minors who testify in court (e.g., certain privacy protections) to those who are victims of or witnesses to crimes involving mental injury (i.e., psychological or intellectual harm to a child) or the negligent treatment of a child.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.