KARE 11
By Felicity Dachel
WASHINGTON D.C., DC — A new law is in effect that makes it illegal to publish non-consensual intimate images online, also known as "revenge porn."
The "Take it Down" Act also makes it illegal to post AI-generated, non-consensual intimate images, and makes it so social media companies have to have procedures in place to remove these images without 48 hours' notice from a victim.
The bill was signed into law at a ceremony Monday with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. The Associated Press reports FLOTUS said that artificial intelligence is “digital candy” for the next generation, “but unlike sugar, this new technology can be weaponized.” Trump spoke after his wife, saying it is “so horrible what takes place.”
The act was put forward by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
“Passing the TAKE IT DOWN Act into law is a major victory for victims of online abuse – giving people legal protections and tools for when their intimate images, including deepfakes, are shared without their consent, and enabling law enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable,” said Sen. Klobuchar in a press release. “This is also a landmark move towards establishing common-sense rules of the road around social media and AI. Thank you to the victims, advocates, and law enforcement officials who have banded together to work with Senator Cruz and me to pass this legislation. The support of the First Lady has been key to this effort, and I am glad the President is signing this historic bill into law.”
The bill also makes it illegal for someone to threaten to publish revenge porn, and clarifies that "a victim consenting to the creation of an authentic image does not mean that the victim has consented to its publication."
The AP reports the bill received overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress, but free speech advocates and digital rights groups say the bill is too broad and could lead to censorship of legitimate images, including legal pornography and LGBTQ content.