H.R. 10925House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Countering Online Trafficking Act

To require an assessment with respect to the technical capacity of the Department of State to address the use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to facilitate trafficking in persons.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated October 31, 2026 at 10:11 AM UTC

The Countering Online Trafficking Act directs the State Department to evaluate its ability to use artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to fight human trafficking, especially involving children. Within 180 days of the law’s passage, the Ambassador‑at‑Large for the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons must submit a report to the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees. The bill focuses on identifying gaps in technical expertise and outlining steps to fill those gaps.

Key Provisions

The State Department must complete an assessment of its technical capacity to address AI‑enabled trafficking within 180 days of enactment.
The assessment must examine whether the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons has sufficient personnel with specialized technical skills and identify any significant gaps.
If gaps are found, the report must detail actions the Ambassador‑at‑Large will take—using existing authority, training, inter‑bureau coordination, temporary assignments, or other measures—to close those gaps, along with a timeline.
The report is to be submitted in an unclassified format, though it may include a classified annex, to the relevant House and Senate committees.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs Committee

October 29, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 29, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs Committee

October 29, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 29, 2026

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10925

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 29, 2026

Mr. Gallagher introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

A BILL

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Countering Online Trafficking Act.

Assessment of technical capacity to combat technology-facilitated trafficking in persons

(a)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Ambassador-at-Large of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, in consultation with the head of any other appropriate bureau or office of the Department of State, shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate an assessment of the following:

(1)

The extent to which the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons has timely access to personnel with specialized technical expertise necessary to carry out the responsibilities of such office with respect to the use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies used to facilitate trafficking in persons, particularly trafficking involving children, including any significant gaps in such access.

(2)

If significant gaps are identified under paragraph (1), the actions the Ambassador-at-Large intends to take, using existing authorities and resources, to address such gaps, including through existing personnel, training, coordination between bureaus, temporary details, or other appropriate measures, and the anticipated timeline for implementing such actions.

(b)

Form

The assessment required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.