Trump Signs Bill Criminalizing Revenge Porn and Explicit Deepfakes, Imposing Stricter Penalties on Publishers and Platforms

President Donald Trump signed the Take It Down Act on Monday, a bipartisan law that imposes stricter penalties for the distribution of nonconsensual explicit images, including deepfakes and revenge porn. The bill now makes it a federal crime to publish such images, whether they are authentic or generated using artificial intelligence. Those found guilty can face criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, as well as being required to pay restitution to victims. Social media companies and online platforms are also required to act swiftly under the new law. They must remove any such material within 48 hours of receiving notification from the victim and take additional measures to delete duplicate content. This marks the first time federal regulators have mandated these actions, although many states have already outlawed the distribution of sexually explicit deepfakes and revenge porn. "This will be the first-ever federal law to combat the distribution of explicit imagery posted without the subjects' consent," Trump stated during the signing ceremony at the White House. "We will not tolerate online sexual exploitation." First Lady Melania Trump played a significant role in lobbying for the bill, which was sponsored by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). Cruz noted that his motivation for supporting the bill stemmed from incidents where companies, such as Snapchat, were slow to remove AI-generated deepfakes involving minors. However, free speech advocates and digital rights groups have expressed concerns about the breadth of the law. They argue that it could lead to the censorship of legitimate content, such as legal pornography, and may be used to target government critics. These organizations fear that the law's language is too vague and could be misinterpreted or abused. Despite these reservations, the Take It Down Act represents a significant step in addressing the issue of online exploitation and the misuse of AI technology. It highlights the growing need for comprehensive legislation to protect individuals from the rapidly evolving landscape of digital abuse and harm.