The Safe Cloud Storage Act, a bipartisan bill sponsored by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), has advanced unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The legislation aims to provide limited liability protections for vendors approved by law enforcement to securely store and transfer child sexual abuse material (CSAM) as part of investigations into child sexual exploitation.
Senator Blackburn stated, “Those helping law enforcement in the fight against child sexual exploitation must be able to securely store evidence of these horrific crimes. Our bipartisan Safe Cloud Storage Act would ensure investigators can securely handle and store CSAM evidence in the cloud by providing limited liability protections, and I’m pleased it is one step closer to becoming law.”
Senator Klobuchar added, “We must do everything we can to protect our children from online exploitation and abuse. Our commonsense, bipartisan bill would improve investigations and prosecutions by allowing law enforcement to safely store and transmit evidence using cloud systems – saving time and resources.”
Other sponsors include Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Ashley Moody (R-Fla.).
The proposed act builds on Senator Blackburn’s previous REPORT Act from 2024, which granted similar protections for National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)-contracted vendors handling CSAM during investigations. According to background information provided with the bill, third-party vendors who work with law enforcement also need such protections so they can assist in investigations without facing criminal or civil liability.
Under the Safe Cloud Storage Act, law enforcement-approved vendors could offer secure cloud-based storage for CSAM evidence without risk of civil claims or criminal charges—unless there is intentional misconduct, negligence, or malice involved. Vendors would still be required to follow strict cybersecurity standards.
The legislation has received endorsements from several organizations including Raven, NCMEC, Thorn, International Justice Mission, Fraternal Order of Police, Child Rescue Coalition, National District Attorneys Association, Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, and National Center on Sexual Exploitation.
Jennifer Dunton of Raven said: “The Safe Cloud Storage Act is a critical step forward in modernizing how law enforcement investigates child sexual exploitation. By authorizing secure, cloud-based storage for CSAM evidence, this bill ensures that investigators can move cases faster, identify victims sooner, and hold offenders accountable, all while maintaining the highest cybersecurity standards. RAVEN strongly supports this effort to give law enforcement the 21st-century tools they need to protect children online.”
Michelle DeLaune of NCMEC commented: “The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is proud to support the Safe Cloud Storage Act and thanks Senator Blackburn, Senator Klobuchar, Senator Cornyn, and Senator Blumenthal for introducing this important piece of legislation. The bill will modernize law enforcement’s use of advanced technologies, enabling more streamlined investigations of cases of child sexual exploitation. We look forward to continuing our work with the bill’s sponsors to see this legislation advance.”
Emily Slifer at Thorn said: “Thorn is proud to endorse the Safe Cloud Storage Act and is grateful for Senator Blackburn and Senator Klobuchar for their leadership on this legislation. This Act would make a critical legal update that would allow law enforcement to safely use cloud storage in the process of investigating child sexual exploitation and abuse victims. This update will allow law enforcement to more efficiently investigate these crimes at scale and protect children from sexual abuse.”
Nate King at International Justice Mission stated: “The Safe Cloud Storage Act will modernize and accelerate CSAM investigations conducted by law enforcement. This needed legislation builds upon recently increased reporting requirements through the REPORT Act by ensuring that law enforcement-approved vendors who assist in CSAM investigations can legally and securely store evidence that is critical to holding perpetrators accountable—including U.S.-based CSAM offenders who direct and consume live child sexual abuse of children in countries like the Philippines.”
Patrick Yoes at Fraternal Order of Police remarked: “The National Fraternal Order of Police strongly supports Safe Cloud Storage Act. This important piece of legislation modernizes how critical digital evidence is securely stored and shared—helping officers investigate serious crimes more efficiently while protecting victims’ privacy. The FOP is grateful for Senator Blackburn’s leadership…in ensuring police have reliable secure tools we need to keep pace with increasingly digital threats…”
Greg Schiller at Child Rescue Coalition noted: “At Child Rescue Coalition our innovative technology empowers law enforcement… The SCSA strengthens…how law enforcement can securely store share…and interact with CSAM accelerating identification…This bill reinforces trust accountability…and innovation ensuring critical safeguards evolve alongside technology…”
Nelson Bunn at National District Attorneys Association concluded: “The Safe Cloud Storage Act equips prosecutors…with modern secure tools necessary…while maintaining strictest security standards…strengthens investigations protects victims…and ensures highly sensitive evidence properly stored…”
Senator Blackburn represents Tennessee as its first female senator in Washington D.C., serving on committees including Finance; Commerce; Science & Transportation; Veterans’ Affairs; as well as Judiciary—the committee advancing this measure according to her official website. She has supported issues related not only to veterans’ care but also online protections for children as documented on her site.
