Congresswoman Laurel Lee introduced the Safe Cloud Storage Act on Mar. 9, a bill aimed at helping law enforcement agencies modernize how they securely store and process digital evidence related to child sexual exploitation investigations.
The legislation is intended to address the growing challenges faced by investigators as the volume of digital evidence containing child sexual abuse material increases. Many agencies still rely on outdated physical storage tools, which can slow down investigations and limit capacity.
Lee is joined by Representatives Steve Cohen, Madeleine Dean, and Brad Knott as House co-leads, with Senators Marsha Blackburn and Amy Klobuchar leading a companion bill in the Senate. The act extends limited liability protections for vetted third-party vendors who assist law enforcement in handling sensitive digital evidence, building on the framework established by the REPORT Act.
“Identifying victims and bringing predators to justice requires modern investigative tools,” said Representative Lee. “The Safe Cloud Storage Act updates how law enforcement securely handles digital evidence, allowing investigators to partner with trusted technology providers while maintaining strong safeguards and accountability.” Senator Blackburn said, “Our bipartisan Safe Cloud Storage Act would ensure investigators can securely handle and store CSAM evidence in the cloud by providing limited liability protections.” Senator Klobuchar added that the bill would “improve investigations and prosecutions by allowing law enforcement to safely store and transmit evidence using cloud systems – saving time and resources.”
The bill includes strict guardrails: liability protections do not apply in cases of intentional misconduct or gross negligence, and vendors must comply with cybersecurity standards consistent with National Institute of Standards and Technology guidelines. Vendors are also required to notify the Department of Justice within 30 days of entering into contracts involving CSAM-related materials.
Support for the legislation comes from several organizations including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), Raven, Thorn, International Justice Mission, Fraternal Order of Police, Child Rescue Coalition, National District Attorneys Association, Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, and National Center on Sexual Exploitation. Greg Schiller of Child Rescue Coalition said: “This bill reinforces trust, accountability, and innovation, ensuring critical safeguards evolve alongside the technology law enforcement relies on every day to protect children.”
Laurel Lee has served in Congress representing Florida’s 15th district since 2023 after replacing Scott Franklin according to available information. She previously served in the Florida House of Representatives. Lee was born in Cleveland in 1974 and currently lives in Tampa. She graduated from the University of Florida with a BA in 1996 before earning her JD there in 1999.
By enabling secure cloud-based storage for sensitive materials under strict standards, supporters say this legislation will help investigators process evidence more efficiently while protecting victims sooner.
