The Thonotosassa Republican presented the Combating Online Predators (COP) Act (HR 6719<\/a>) on the House floor Monday, where it cleared the chamber on a voice vote with no objections.<\/p>\n \u201cThe rise of sextortion against our nation\u2019s children is troubling,\u201d Lee said. \u201cSextortion is a form of exploitation that occurs when someone threatens to distribute another person\u2019s private, sensitive material unless that person complies with demands for additional sexual content, sexual favors or money. Incidents of sextortion have increased dramatically in recent years.\u201d<\/p>\n The legislation now goes to the Senate. If passed and signed, it will for the first time explicitly criminalize threats to distribute child sex abuse materials.<\/p>\n \u201cSextortion is a devastating crime that preys on fear, shame, and vulnerability \u2014 especially among children,\u201d Lee said when she introduced the bill.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen predators threaten to distribute explicit images of minors, the harm is real and often irreversible. Congress has a duty to ensure our laws keep pace with the tactics used by online predators, and this legislation closes a critical gap to protect children and deliver justice for victims.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20250658_FINAL_FloridaPolitics_728x90.jpg\")
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