Bill to protect victims of deepfake ‘revenge’ porn passes US Senate
AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act, which criminalizes the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII).
S.4569 was introduced by Senators Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, in June 2024 and is co-sponsored by 20 other senators.
“The TAKE IT DOWN Act gives victims of revenge and deepfake pornography—many of whom are young girls—the ability to fight back,” Cruz said.
The bill would require those who knowingly spread the NCII material, which includes real and deepfake pornography, to face criminal charges, as well as require platforms to work to remove the exploitative content within 48 hours.
“While nearly every state has a law protecting people from [NCII], including 30 states with laws explicitly covering sexual deepfakes, these state laws vary in classification of crime and penalty and have uneven criminal prosecution,” Cruz said.
The TAKE IT DOWN Act, which has received support from more than 100 organizations, would also permit the good faith disclosure of NCII, such as to law enforcement.
“As we worked on the TAKE IT DOWN Act, more victims courageously came forward to share their stories to help end this horrific online abuse,” Cruz said. “Now, it’s up to the House to pass the TAKE IT DOWN Act and give victims the power to reclaim their privacy and dignity.”
U.S. Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Florida, and Madeleine Dean, D-Pennsylvania, reintroduced companion legislation in the House, the release said.
