From what I understand it's even more cut and dry than that. If you submit a report to the NCMEC you are generally required to (securely) keep a copy of the ima

From what I understand it's even more cut and dry than that. If you submit a report to the NCMEC you are generally required to (securely) keep a copy of the image(s) being reported and any related info for a period of time. That's part of the rules. You are also only compelled to report things that you know are bad, so verification before reporting makes sense. The idea that they would be charged with a crime for doing what is essentially required by law is flat out wrong. Unless they are storing the material insecurely once confirmed bad or otherwise mishandling the process, they seem to be following the law as I understand it. IANAL but I have an account with the NCMEC for a service I run, so I have looked through their documentation and relevant laws to try to understand the requirements placed on me as a service provider.