President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan “Take It Down Act” into law Monday, marking a sweeping federal effort to combat nonconsensual intimate imagery online, including deepfakes created using artificial intelligence. The law, which first lady Melania Trump helped champion, imposes penalties for the creation and distribution of explicit images without consent and establishes clear takedown obligations for platforms hosting such content.
At a White House Rose Garden ceremony, Trump invited his wife to co-sign the legislation—a symbolic gesture highlighting her advocacy. “She deserves to sign it,” Trump said, adding that Melania’s lobbying on Capitol Hill was instrumental in the bill’s passage. In March, she made her first public appearance since resuming the role of first lady to urge House lawmakers to act on the bill, following its approval by the Senate.
Melania Trump called the bill a “national victory” that will help protect children and families from online exploitation. “AI and social media are the digital candy for the next generation,” she said. “But unlike sugar, these new technologies can be weaponized, shape beliefs and, sadly, affect emotions and even be deadly.”
Formally titled the “Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act,” or TAKE IT DOWN Act, the law makes it a federal crime to knowingly publish or threaten to publish intimate visual depictions—including AI-generated “digital forgeries”—without the subject’s consent.
The bill covers both authentic and synthetic content involving adults and minors and includes stringent penalties of up to three years in prison for offenses involving minors. It also requires online platforms to remove nonconsensual intimate images within 48 hours of a valid takedown request, and to make “reasonable efforts” to delete duplicates.
The Federal Trade Commission is tasked with enforcing the removal process, treating noncompliance as an unfair or deceptive practice. Covered platforms must offer a clear, accessible way for individuals to request removals and must publish their policy prominently.
While many states already have revenge porn or deepfake laws, the TAKE IT DOWN Act is one of the most comprehensive federal responses to online sexual exploitation and the growing threat of AI misuse. The legislation passed with near-unanimous support in Congress—409-2 in the House and unanimous consent in the Senate—following its introduction by Sens. Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar.
Need Help?
If you have questions or concerns about how to navigate the U.S. or global AI regulatory landscape, don’t hesitate to reach out to BABL AI. Their Audit Experts can offer valuable insight, and ensure you’re informed and compliant.
