U.S. President Donald Trump has enacted a law that prohibits the posting of "revenge porn" and explicit deepfake content. The Take It Down Act makes it illegal to share "intimate images," whether real or AI-generated, online without the consent of the individual depicted. Additionally, the law mandates that technology companies must remove such content within 48 hours.
Although the bill has garnered significant bipartisan support, some digital rights organizations argue that its broad scope could result in censorship. This legislation marks the sixth bill signed by Trump during his second term, as he typically favors advancing his agenda through executive orders. The president signed the bill on Monday afternoon during a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, following its approval by both chambers of Congress. He was joined by First Lady Melania Trump, who White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previously noted played a crucial role in facilitating the bill's passage.
The bill received overwhelming support in the lower chamber of Congress, passing with a vote of 409-2 at the end of April, and was unanimously approved by the Senate in February. Melania Trump has been a strong advocate for the bill since her husband began his second term. In March, she made her first solo public appearance to encourage Congress members to support its passage.
“It’s truly heartbreaking to see young teens, particularly girls, struggling with the overwhelming challenges posed by harmful online content, such as deepfakes,” the First Lady stated during a roundtable discussion about the bill on March 3. “In a time when digital interactions are a vital part of everyday life, it is essential that we protect children from cruel and damaging online behavior.”
Revenge porn refers to the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, while deepfake porn involves the use of AI to create fake explicit images or videos of individuals. The use of this technology has increased in recent years, enabling users to superimpose the faces of celebrities or public figures—most often women—into pornographic films.
Tech companies such as Meta, TikTok, and Google have expressed their support for the legislation, but it has faced criticism. Advocates for digital rights and free speech warn that it may result in the censorship of legitimate content, including legal pornography, LGBTQ+ material, and criticism of the government.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights advocacy group, stated, “While the goal of protecting victims from these serious privacy violations is valid, good intentions alone do not create effective policy. As it stands, the act enforces a notice-and-takedown system that jeopardizes free expression, user privacy, and due process, without addressing the issues it purports to resolve.”
Additionally, the Internet Society, which promotes digital privacy, argues that the legislation presents “unacceptable risks to users’ fundamental privacy rights and cybersecurity by compromising encryption.”
