Victim reporting protection
A person depicted as a minor, or a qualifying representative, receives limited-liability protection when reporting the material in which that person is depicted to the CyberTipline, subject to statutory exceptions.
Rights and protections
The REPORT Act creates specific protections around good-faith reporting and the handling of highly sensitive material.
Protections under the law
Restricted access
NCMEC must minimize access to material reported by a depicted individual or representative and ensure appropriate deletion under federal law.
Longer evidence preservation
Reported contents must generally be preserved for one year, helping lawful investigations avoid the loss of relevant evidence.
Secure handling
The law applies cybersecurity, access-minimization, encryption, and audit requirements to qualifying NCMEC vendors that store or transfer covered material.
Preserve relevant information. If you may need to report unlawful conduct or pursue a claim, keep URLs, account names, dates, correspondence, original files, and confirmation numbers. Do not redistribute illegal or exploitative material in order to document it.