After the signing of the Take It Down bill by the White House was confirmed, the Cuban-American Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar celebrated the event on her X account with a strong message.
“Historic! My law Take It Down will be signed today at the White House. Victims of deepfakes (fake videos or images generated with artificial intelligence) and online exploitation will finally have real protection, and tech giants will have to be held accountable,” said the congresswoman, expressing gratitude for the support of First Lady Melania Trump “for leading this cause and supporting the victims.”
The initiative was strongly supported by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, in his first speech before Congress since his return to the White House.
The proposal, whose full name is Tools for Addressing Known Exploitation through the Immobilization of Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks (Take It Down Act), aims to curb the growing threat posed by pornographic deepfakes and non-consensual intimate content (NCII, for its acronym in English).
Its goal is to protect victims of revenge pornography generated with artificial intelligence (AI). This type of false content, created from digitally manipulated images, videos, or audio, can have devastating consequences for the lives and reputations of the individuals involved.
Among the key points established by the bill are:
- To classify as a federal crime the publication or the threat of publication of non-consensual intimate content in interstate commerce.
- Require digital platforms to remove this type of content within a maximum of 48 hours after notification by the victim.
- Legally protect authorities and healthcare professionals who are working in good faith to assist victims.
- Apply the "reasonable person" test to determine whether a deepfake realistically represents someone, thus protecting freedom of expression under the First Amendment.
The legislative proposal was presented in the House of Representatives by Salazar alongside colleagues from both the Republican and Democratic parties, including Madeleine Dean, Vern Buchanan, Debbie Dingell, August Pfluger, and Stacey Plaskett. In the Senate, it is being promoted by Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar.
This cross-cutting support emphasizes the urgency of legislating around an issue that predominantly affects women and girls. According to figures cited in the official statement, only 20 states in the U.S. have specific laws to address deepfakes, with significant differences in how these crimes are classified and punished.
Melania Trump reappeared to support the initiative. During a joint speech with Congresswoman Salazar, she addressed the impact that manipulated content has on the lives of young people and public figures.
“It is heartbreaking to witness how young people, especially girls, face the overwhelming challenges posed by malicious online content, such as deepfakes,” expressed Melania Trump.
Finally, during his speech before Congress, President Trump emphasized the seriousness of the issue and promised to sign the bill as soon as it reaches his desk.
"Great work to criminalize the posting of such images online, something terrible. And once it passes, I hope it reaches my desk so I can sign that bill," he stated.
Presidential backing reinforces the significance of this project at a critical time, as the use of artificial intelligence-based technologies is rapidly increasing for both constructive and malicious purposes.
The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed the signing in a message posted on X. “This afternoon, in the Rose Garden, @POTUS, along with @FLOTUS, will sign the TAKE IT DOWN Act. First Lady Melania Trump was instrumental in the passage of this important legislation. The TAKE IT DOWN Act will protect victims of digital exploitation...”.
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