This bill creates new federal crimes targeting a specific type of online sexual exploitation called 'sextortion.' Here's what that means: criminals threaten to share sexually explicit images or videos of minors (or people they think are minors) unless the victim creates and sends them new explicit material. This bill makes it illegal to carry out these threats, attempt to do so, or plan to do so with others. The law applies whether the victim is actually a minor or the criminal just believes they are. Right now, prosecutors sometimes struggle to charge these crimes under existing laws, so this bill gives them a clearer, more direct tool to go after predators who use this tactic. If you're a parent, this means there's now a specific federal crime law enforcement can use to prosecute people who try to blackmail your child into creating explicit content. If you're a young person online, it means there's stronger legal protection against this particular form of sexual exploitation and coercion.

James T. Woods Act

Lee, Laurel M.

Combating Online Predators Act of 2025 or the COP Act of 2025This bill establishes new federal criminal offenses for threatening to distribute a visual depiction of a minor (or person believed to be a minor) engaging in sexually explicit conduct with the intent that the minor (or person believed to be a minor) create or transmit a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct. (This practice is commonly referred to as sextortion.)&nbsp;The bill also prohibits attempts and conspiracies to commit the offenses.&nbsp;