House Passes TAKE IT DOWN Act Backed by Melania Trump to Combat Revenge Porn, Deep Fakes

The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a bill supported by First Lady Melania Trump, aimed at curbing the nonconsensual distribution of explicit images and deep fake content.

In a decisive move, the House voted 409-2 in favor of the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks (TAKE IT DOWN Act), which now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature. The legislation, which seeks to protect individuals from the harmful effects of unauthorized intimate visual depictions, both real and AI-generated, was introduced by Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Maria Salazar.

The bill specifically targets the online publication of intimate images intended to harm the subject, without their consent, and extends protections to minors against abusive or harassing content. Violators face severe penalties, including mandatory restitution and potential imprisonment or fines. Additionally, the act mandates that online platforms must remove reported content within 48 hours of notification.

First Lady Melania Trump, who has been a vocal advocate for the bill, emphasized its importance in safeguarding children and fostering a safer digital environment. Her involvement marks a continuation of her BE BEST initiative, which focuses on the well-being of the next generation. The passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act was celebrated by supporters as a significant step forward in protecting victims of revenge porn and deepfake exploitation, with special recognition given to survivors and advocates who propelled the legislation forward.