House leaders have pledged to advance the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a bipartisan bill designed to criminalize nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII), including AI-generated deepfake pornography, after a roundtable hosted by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and First Lady Melania Trump.

The legislation passed the Senate unanimously and now awaits action in the House, where lawmakers and victim advocates are urging swift passage.

The bill would do the following:

✔ Make it illegal to knowingly publish non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including AI-generated deepfake pornography.
✔ Require social media and online platforms to remove NCII within 48 hours upon notification from the victim.
✔ Hold perpetrators criminally accountable under federal law.
✔ Empower the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce penalties against non-compliant platforms.
✔ Ensure websites take “reasonable efforts” to remove copies of NCII.

To be clear this isn’t about traditional porn, it’s about non-consensual porn. Traditional porn requests the performers to prove they are over 18 and sign a model release. Deepfakes and revenge porn don’t.

First Lady Melania Trump, who has long focused on online safety through her “Be Best” initiative, called on Congress to prioritize the bill’s passage:

“I urge Congress to prioritize the passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act. This legislation is essential for addressing the growing concerns related to online safety, protecting individual rights, and promoting a healthier digital environment.”

She emphasized the increasing dangers of deepfake pornography and the psychological trauma it inflicts on victims, particularly teen girls and women.

Sen. Ted Cruz, the bill’s lead sponsor, stressed that victims struggle to remove harmful content from the internet while tech companies profit from the dissemination of explicit AI-generated imagery.

“The TAKE IT DOWN Act empowers victims across the entire United States. It makes it a felony for these deviants to publish any non-consensual intimate images, including fake, lifelike pornographic images of real people.”

“Our bipartisan bill requires Big Tech to have a notice-and-takedown process so every victimized American—not just the rich or famous—can get these disturbing images offline immediately.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) have committed to bringing the bill to a vote quickly.

✔ Speaker Johnson:

“As the dark side of technology advances, these unspeakable evils become part of the culture. The law has to keep up.”

✔ Majority Leader Scalise:

“It will be a priority to bring the bill to the House floor quickly, to get it to the President’s desk for signature.”

✔ Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), a key House sponsor:

“This bill will stop the abuse throughout social media. It will force Big Tech to remove explicit deepfake images within 48 hours—no more excuses.”

Several advocates and survivors shared their experiences with deepfake pornography and online exploitation, calling for immediate legislative action:

✔ Elliston Berry, high school student & advocate:

“Millions of people, male and female, teenagers and children, have been affected by the rise of image-based sexual abuse. This is unacceptable. The TAKE IT DOWN Act will give a voice to victims.”

✔ Francesca Mani, youth activist:

“Even though AI exploitation can happen to anyone, 96% of victims of AI misuse are women and children. We need laws.”

✔ Breeze Liu, founder of anti-deepfake software:

“The TAKE IT DOWN Act creates accountability where there was none before. Victims must have a way to remove harmful content swiftly.”

✔ Brandon Guffey, South Carolina legislator whose son died by suicide due to online sexual extortion:

“I’m witnessing teens take their own lives because they can’t get these images taken down. With the TAKE IT DOWN Act, families will finally have a way to fight back.”

Currently, only 30 states have laws covering deepfake NCII—the TAKE IT DOWN Act would establish federal protections.

Tech companies will face legal accountability if they fail to act on takedown requests.

AI-generated explicit imagery has surged in recent years, with celebrity victims like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Scarlett Johansson targeted.

With bipartisan support and backing from House leadership, the TAKE IT DOWN Act is expected to pass quickly in the House and be sent to President Donald Trump for signing into law.