US Senate Passes New Take It Down Act That Protects AI-Generated Revenge Porn Victims
The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed the bipartisan Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks (TAKE IT DOWN) Act, co-sponsored by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). This legislation criminalizes the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including AI-generated content known as “deepfake revenge pornography.” It mandates that social media platforms and similar websites establish procedures to remove such content within 48 hours of notification from the victim.
The Act aims to protect victims from the distress caused by the non-consensual sharing of explicit images, which can lead to significant emotional and reputational harm. By holding perpetrators accountable and requiring prompt removal of offending content, the legislation seeks to curb the misuse of AI technology in creating and distributing harmful deepfake material.
Having passed the Senate, the TAKE IT DOWN Act now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. If enacted, it will provide a federal framework to address the growing issue of AI-generated NCII, supplementing existing state laws that vary in scope and enforcement.
