Florida Bill to Change “Child Pornography” to “Child Sexual Abuse Material”
What’s in a name? According to a Florida lawmaker, the right terminology matters. The phrase “child pornography” is mentioned in Florida statute 56 times, but a Republican lawmaker wants to change that.
If passed, Child Pornography Terminology (HB 245) will update the language. It will change “child pornography” to the more accurate term, which is child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
The term “child pornography” is misleading based on the fact that while adult pornography is legal, there is no category known as child pornography. “Child pornography” implies a lawful form of pornography when it is not. It is instead a sexualized depiction or exploitation of minors, which is a crime. It is not legal like adult pornography. The proper term is child sexual abuse material.
The lawmaker proposing this bill is a former prosecutor for the 7th Judicial Circuit. She is known for a bill that allowed the death penalty for adults who abuse children under 12. The bill gained bipartisan support and she believes this latest bill will do the same. She hopes to change the terminology after being approached by a detective in Clay County who told her the term “child pornography” was outdated.
If the bill is signed into law, Florida will join several Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Delaware, which have also changed the term in their law books. The term “child sexual abuse material” say sound new but it has been around since 2015 when detectives and prosecutors starting using the term. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Interpol began officially using it around the same time. The United States followed suit. The Department of Justice and tech companies have phased out “child pornography” and now use child sexual abuse material instead.
So the term “child sexual abuse material” is not something new. If the bill passes, the law would align with the language law enforcement uses in their everyday operations. The lawmaker says that is something that should have been done a long time ago because the term “child pornography” is misleading.
Contact a Legal Professional for Help
Child pornography. Child sexual abuse material. No matter what you call it, it is illegal to view, download, distribute, and create.
If you have been accused of such a crime, you need solid defense from a Florida child pornography lawyer from the Law Offices of Gilbert A. Schaffnit. You need to take these charges seriously. To schedule a consultation, call (352) 505-1799 or fill out the online form.
Source:
tallahassee.com/story/news/local/state/2025/10/30/florida-bill-aims-to-replace-child-pornography-term-in-state-law/86877046007/