Trump Signs ‘Take It Down’, Act Criminalising Revenge Porn And Deepfakes

In a historic Rose Garden ceremony, President Donald Trump signed the Take It Down Act into law, a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting children and families from online exploitation. First Lady Melania Trump, a key advocate for the legislation, joined the President in the ceremony, marking a significant milestone for her Be Best initiative.

The new law makes it a federal crime to “knowingly publish” or threaten to publish intimate images without consent, including AI-generated “deepfakes”, and requires social media companies to remove such content within 48 hours of a victim's request. The websites and social media also endure the onus of taking steps to delete any duplicates.

“AI and social media are the digital candy for the next generation, sweet addictive and engineered to have an impact on the cognitive development of our children,” Melania Trump said. “But unlike sugar, these new technologies can be weaponised, shape beliefs and, sadly, affect emotions and even be deadly.”