House Approves Take It Down Act to Criminalize Nonconsensual Deepfakes
Congress passes a bipartisan bill making it a federal crime to share AI-generated nonconsensual intimate imagery. The legislation requires platforms to remove such content within 48 hours but draws criticism over potential First Amendment and encryption impacts.
The House passes the Take It Down Act with overwhelming bipartisan support, making it a federal crime to publish nonconsensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated deepfakes. The bill requires tech companies to remove violating images within 48 hours of receiving notice and empowers the Federal Trade Commission to enforce these rules. With a similar version already approved by the Senate, the legislation now awaits a presidential signature to become law.
The bill unites an unusual coalition of supporters, ranging from Senators Amy Klobuchar and Ted Cruz to First Lady Melania Trump and former Biden administration officials. Lawmakers highlight the widespread harm of deepfake pornography, which disproportionately targets both public figures and private citizens. Studies show that the vast majority of deepfakes on the internet consist of nonconsensual nude images that manipulate the faces and bodies of real people.
Despite its popularity, the legislation faces significant criticism from digital rights advocates who worry about its broader implications. Opponents argue that the strict 48-hour removal mandate places an undue burden on smaller tech companies and threatens end-to-end encrypted messaging applications. Furthermore, critics warn that the enforcement mechanisms could inadvertently infringe on First Amendment protections as platforms scramble to comply with the new federal requirements.