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Montana proposal would let victims and private plaintiffs sue websites that profit from child sexual abuse material
Summary
Representative Lucas Schubert told the Senate Judiciary Committee HB 752 would create statutory damages and a private right of action against websites that distribute or profit from child sexual abuse material; business groups and tech trade groups warned the measure's thresholds and 48-hour takedown defense could create impractical liability and exposure for legitimate platforms.
Representative Lucas Schubert introduced House Bill 752 to the Senate Judiciary Committee, describing it as a statute to hold content providers and websites liable for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and for profiting from that distribution. Schubert said the bill’s liability schedule would impose substantial statutory damages — $5 million for intentional violations, $1 million for negligent violations and $100,000 for strict liability in some configurations — and would provide a 48-hour takedown defense if a site removes material within that timeframe.
Schubert emphasized that the bill targets content…
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