Cybertip from Electronic Service Provider (ESP)
In 2022, more than 32 million Cybertips were reported to NCMEC. In 2021, Cybertips numbered just over 29 million. Federal law requires NCMEC to forward Cybertips to relevant state, federal or tribal agencies that work on cybercrimes. NCMEC reported that of the 2022 year Cybertips, law enforcement responded back about just over 262,000 of those claims giving NCMEC information about the status. NCMEC was able to report that just over 60,000 of those Cybertips had resulted in convictions (61), investigations (47,250), or arrests (12,847).
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
NCMEC was founded (34 U.S.C. § 11291) in 1984 in response to a number of high-profile child abuse cases, including the abduction of Adam Walsh in Hollywood, Florida. The original pre-Internet act did not include a Cybertipline, but did include protection for children from sex offenders. Over time, NCMEC’s role expanded to include maintenance of the tipline and database if known CSAM. NCMEC has been reauthorized multiple times since its creation, and is scheduled for reauthorization in 2023-2024.