Ending The Epidemic of Online Child Exploitation

This week, the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is holding another set of hearings on the exploding problem of online child exploitation. This crime is growing at an alarming rate and is surpassing law enforcements best efforts to stop it. During these hearings we learned of many efforts by law enforcement officials to stop these predators. Unfortunately, many of these investigators have watched their cases reach a dead end because Internet Service Providers (ISPs) fail to retain subscriber data. Thankfully, due in part to these hearings certain ISPs have agreed to retain subscriber data for up to 180 days. We welcome their voluntary efforts, but there still needs to be a national standard.

That is why I am drafting legislation to require ISPs to retain limited customer data for one year. This would allow law enforcement officials, working through the proper legal channels, to obtain the information they need to solve these crimes. This bill is a step in the right direction in stopping this horrible epidemic and I hope members from both sides of the aisle will join me in supporting it.

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