Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) encompasses everything from the possession, production, and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), to online grooming and enticement, to sextortion and hands-on contact offenses where digital evidence establishes the investigative record. These are not isolated incidents. These are crimes facilitated, scaled, and often coordinated through shared digital infrastructure.

The United States federal response is organized through the ICAC Task Force Program, a federal-state-local network administered by OJJDP. Investigations are typically conducted at the state and local level, coordinated through regional task forces and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). FBI and HSI join on cases involving organized networks or international scope. Prosecution flows through state attorneys general, U.S. Attorney offices, and DOJ CEOS depending on case complexity and jurisdiction.

The U.S. framework operates alongside a broader ecosystem. Interpol, Internet Watch Foundation, and ECPAT International coordinate global cross-border efforts, while platforms are legally required to report CSAM to NCMEC under 18 U.S.C. § 2258A. Non-profits play a pivotal role: Thorn builds detection tools, the Tech Coalition drives platform accountability, C3P maintains global hash infrastructure, Project VIC International delivers victim identification tooling directly to ICAC task forces, and many more contribute to advocacy, policy, and survivor support. This briefing focuses on the U.S. ICAC enforcement record.