Trump Acts: Bipartisan Bill Against Deepfake Abuse and Online Exploitation

President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan Take It Down Act on Monday, a law that criminalizes the nonconsensual online publication of intimate images, both authentic and AI-generated, and requires major tech platforms to remove such content within 48 hours of notification.

The law goes into effect immediately, meaning there is little time for an interim evaluation. The signing of this law also marked a rare symbolic moment, as First Lady Melania Trump accompanied the president to sign it. This law is the culmination of her recent public campaign aimed at protecting children from online exploitation.

Melania Trump emphasized the impact of this law: “This is a powerful step forward in our efforts to ensure that every American, especially our younger generation, feels better protected from the misuse of their image or identity through non-consensual intimate images.” Her words cut to the heart of the problem; the digital world can be very attractive, but at the same time new technologies also pose a danger. “AI and social media are the digital candy of the next generation—sweet, addictive, and designed to disrupt the cognitive development of our children,” she added, with a stark call to action.

The law comes at a time when reports of deepfake pornography and image misuse are exploding. Celebrities including Taylor Swift and Jamie Lee Curtis, as well as underage children, have been victims of AI-generated images being shared online without consent, in some cases in explicit ways.

With the Take It Down Act, the federal government is making it clear that it is taking the fight against the threats of generative AI seriously. It is now a federal crime to publish or threaten to publish nonconsensual intimate images of adults or minors with the intent to cause harm or harassment. Violators face prison sentences and fines.

For adults, the law prohibits the online publication of intimate images intended to harm the subjects. This is especially true if these images were published without consent or if they were obtained under circumstances in which the adult had a reasonable expectation of privacy. For minors, the law includes cases in which publication is intended to abuse or harass the minor.

Websites, online services or apps that host user content must now establish a clear takedown process and eliminate duplicate content of reported images. The bill received near-unanimous support in Congress, with a 409-2 vote in the House and unanimous consent in the Senate.

Melania Trump has directly urged lawmakers to support the bill, including by hosting victim testimony at a roundtable on Capitol Hill and bringing Elliston Berry as her guest to the presidential address in March.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Take It Down Act?
The Take It Down Act is a new law that bans the non-consensual online publication of intimate images and requires technology platforms to remove such content within 48 hours of notification.

Who signed the law?
President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on Monday, with First Lady Melania Trump at his side.

Why is this law important?
This law is important because it protects victims of deepfake pornography and non-consensual image abuse, especially vulnerable groups such as children. It shows the government's determination to take the risks of generative AI seriously.