Child Predators Accountability Act

This section would state that the Act may be cited as the "Child Predators Accountability Act of 2025."

This section would change two federal child sexual exploitation statutes and add a new definition that applies to both.

Section 2251(a) of title 18, United States Code, addressing sexual exploitation of children, currently contains the phrase "coerces any minor to engage in,". This section would insert the words "or be depicted engaging in," immediately after that phrase, so that coercing a minor to be depicted engaging in the relevant conduct, and not only coercing the minor to actually engage in it, would also be covered by that statute.

Section 2260(a) of title 18, United States Code, addressing sexually explicit depictions of a minor for importation, contains the same phrase, "coerces any minor to engage in,". This section would make the identical insertion there, extending the same expanded coverage to that import-related offense.

Section 2256 of title 18, United States Code, which sets out definitions used in this part of the law, would gain a new definition of "engage in" as the term is used with respect to a minor depicted in a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct. Under this new definition, a minor "engages in" such conduct if either: the minor actually participates in the sexually explicit conduct, or the defendant intentionally includes that minor in the visual depiction of the sexually explicit conduct, regardless of whether the minor actually participated in that conduct. This second prong applies whether or not the minor participated in the conduct, so a minor who both participated and was intentionally depicted still falls within this prong, not only a minor who was depicted without ever participating. This means a person who intentionally creates a depiction placing a real minor's likeness into sexually explicit conduct the minor never actually performed would be covered by the new "or be depicted engaging in" language added to Sections 2251(a) and 2260(a), the same as a person who coerced the minor to actually perform that conduct.