Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
This bill makes it a federal crime for anyone to coerce, threaten, or manipulate a child (under 18) into harming themselves, harming others, or committing dangerous acts like arson or swatting. It targets online predators who pressure kids into suicide, violence, or other harmful behavior. If this passes, federal prosecutors gain a new tool to charge adults (or others) who use the internet, mail, or other communication tools to push children toward self-harm or violence.
Children are increasingly targeted through online groups and messaging apps by adults who pressure them into self-harm, violence, or dangerous stunts , and until now, federal law had no specific crime to address it. This bill would give prosecutors a direct way to charge people who use the internet to push kids toward suicide, violence, or acts like swatting.