House Passes Bill Criminalizing Revenge Porn, Deepfakes

The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan Take It Down Act, which criminalizes the nonconsensual sharing of sexually explicit images and videos, including AI-generated 'deepfakes.' The measure, which previously passed the Senate unanimously, now heads to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law. The law requires online platforms to remove such imagery within 48 hours of a victim's report, marking the first significant U.S. internet law specifically targeting revenge porn and deepfake abuse. The bill's passage was championed by First Lady Melania Trump and received support from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, notably Senators Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar. Survivor advocacy played a crucial role in the bill's momentum, with cases like that of teenager Elliston Berry highlighting the urgent need for legal protections. While widely praised for supporting victims, some digital rights groups have expressed concerns about potential misuse and false reporting under the new rules.