U.S. Senators Call for Increased Efforts to Combat Crypto Use in Child Sex Abuse Material Market

U.S. Senators Call for Increased Efforts to Combat Crypto Use in Child Sex Abuse Material Market

In a bold move to address the growing concern of cryptocurrency use in the market for child sex abuse material (CSAM), U.S. senators Elizabeth Warren and Bill Cassidy have called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ramp up their efforts in combating this heinous crime.

In a letter addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, the senators expressed their grave concern over the use of cryptocurrencies in facilitating CSAM trades. They specifically requested the DOJ and DHS to disclose their technical capacity to counter the use of cryptocurrencies in this illicit market.

According to the senators, existing Anti-Money Laundering (AML) rules and law enforcement methods are facing challenges in effectively detecting and preventing these crimes. Citing research from analytics firm Chainalysis, the senators highlighted a concerning increase in cryptocurrency use for CSAM transactions. Bad actors are reportedly using cryptocurrency “mixers” and “privacy coins” like Monero to launder funds and evade law enforcement detection.

“The pseudonymity provided by cryptocurrency has allowed the payments for CSAM to move quickly into the crypto world,” the senators stated in their letter. They emphasized the importance of equipping Congress and the Administration with the necessary tools to combat CSAM and hold perpetrators accountable.

The letter included six questions for the federal agencies to address, with a deadline of May 10 for their response. Three questions focused on the agencies’ findings regarding crypto and its connection to CSAM, while the remaining questions sought new tools for law enforcement to identify and crackdown on buyers and sellers in this illicit market.

This call for action comes on the heels of recent allegations against crypto exchange Binance for its alleged involvement in facilitating transactions related to CSAM material and other criminal activities. The exchange’s CEO, Changpeng Zhao, is facing a 36-month prison sentence as a result of these charges.

As the deadline for the federal agencies’ response approaches, the spotlight remains on the urgent need to combat the use of cryptocurrencies in the CSAM market and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.