February 10th, 2026 (Washington, D.C.) — Internet Works, the trade association representing Middle Tech companies and online platforms, today announced its endorsement of the bipartisan Stop Sextortion Act and the Ending Coercion of Children and Harm Online Act (ECCHO Act). Introduced by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), these two critical pieces of legislation would protect children from rising threats of online exploitation and coercion.
These bills represent meaningful, bipartisan progress toward addressing the ways technology-facilitated harms have evolved. The Stop Sextortion Act would strengthen penalties for offenders who use threats of distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to intimidate and coerce children, while the ECCHO Act would create a new federal crime targeting those who coerce kids into physically harming themselves or others. Both measures fill longstanding gaps in federal law and bolster protections for young people in digital spaces.
“Online platforms and technologies are woven into everyday life, but new forms of digital exploitation and coercion demand that Congress update our legal framework to meet the moment,” said Internet Works Executive Director Peter Chandler. “Internet Works proudly endorses the Stop Sextortion Act and ECCHO Act because they provide concrete tools to hold violent offenders accountable and make online environments safer for children and families. Middle Tech companies are committed to protecting users and supporting common sense policies that reduce harm without undermining innovation.”
Chandler continued, “Internet Works praises the bipartisan leadership of Senators Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin for advancing a thoughtful legislative package that targets serious criminal conduct while preserving the open, innovative nature of the internet.”
About Internet Works:
Internet Works is a coalition of diverse technology companies working together to right-size regulatory technology policy to foster trust and promote safety online so that the Internet remains a place of limitless possibility and innovation. For more information, please visit www.TheInternet.Works.