‘Take It Down Act’: On Monday, US President Donald Trump signed a new law that forbids sharing graphic photos of people, including AI-generated fake images, without their consent. The “Take It Down Act” aims to stop the online spread of non-consensual sexual photos and protect revenge porn victims. First Lady Melania Trump publicly supported the law, which received strong bipartisan backing. The Senate passed the bill in February, the House approved it in March, and the president signed it into law.

Trump Signs Landmark Law:

At a White House ceremony, Trump declared, “This is the first federal law to fight the distribution of explicit images without consent.” He also added, “Online sexual exploitation will not be tolerated.” After signing the law, Trump gave it to Melania to sign as well. According to the law, social media platforms and websites must remove obscene photos and AI-altered videos within 48 hours of a victim’s request. Moreover, it threatens jail time for anyone who shares these images without permission. Melania Trump called the law “a national victory that helps parents and families protect children from online exploitation.”

Melania Trump Response:

During the bill’s March introduction, she said, “It’s heartbreaking to see young teens, especially girls, struggle with harmful online content like deepfakes,” thereby highlighting the risks youth face. She also warned that this toxic environment can cause serious damage.

Furthermore, she added, “Artificial intelligence and social media act like digital candy for the next generation, sweet, addictive, and designed to affect children’s cognitive development.” In addition, she cautioned that these technologies “can be weaponized, shape beliefs, affect emotions, and even become deadly.”

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The Take It Down Act stands as one of the first federal laws to specifically address problems caused by AI-generated content. Although existing rules protected minors from AI-manipulated images, the law now extends nationwide protection to adults. Additionally, it requires digital companies to remove harmful content. Moreover, prominent websites like Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta have publicly supported the law.

New Anti-Deepfake Law:

Several digital rights organizations worry that the rule lacks safeguards against bad-faith takedown requests and may lead to the removal of legitimate content.

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Lawmakers passed the bill in response to multiple high-profile incidents where regular teenage girls and celebrities like Taylor Swift and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faced obscene AI-generated photos. Furthermore, this law shows that society is taking a stronger stand against the misuse of intimate images. Last year, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Ted Cruz introduced the Take It Down Act, which lawmakers enacted with overwhelming support.

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