(Crankers) The U.S. Congress has overwhelmingly approved the bipartisan Take It Down Act, a landmark bill aimed at combating the spread of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including AI-generated deepfakes and revenge porn. The legislation passed the House on April 28 with a 409–2 vote and is now poised to be signed into law by President Donald Trump.
Spearheaded by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the bill criminalizes the publication or threat of publishing NCII without consent. It mandates that online platforms remove flagged content within 48 hours and take reasonable steps to eliminate duplicate material. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with enforcing these requirements, holding platforms accountable for compliance.
First Lady Melania Trump has been a vocal advocate for the legislation, emphasizing its importance in protecting vulnerable individuals, particularly minors, from online exploitation. Her support has been instrumental in garnering bipartisan backing for the bill.
The Take It Down Act has received endorsements from over 60 organizations, including tech companies like Meta, Google, and Snap, as well as advocacy groups such as the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). These supporters argue that the bill provides a necessary legal framework to address the growing problem of NCII and empowers victims to seek justice.
However, the legislation has faced criticism from digital rights organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). Critics argue that the bill’s broad language could lead to over-censorship, potentially affecting legal and journalistic content, and may pressure platforms to over-monitor and rely on imprecise automated filters, reported on sites like Trending Politics.
Despite these concerns, proponents of the bill view it as a significant step toward ensuring accountability and legal recourse for victims of online abuse. With President Trump’s expected signature, the Take It Down Act is set to become the first major internet law of his second term.
For more information on the Take It Down Act, visit congress.gov.