What Is the Take It Down Act?

What is the Take It Down Act and why is it making headlines?

Signed by President Donald Trump in May 2025, this landmark U.S. law takes direct aim at the spread of non-consensual intimate images, including those created by artificial intelligence, known as deepfakes.

The bipartisan measure, introduced by Senators Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar and supported by First Lady Melania Trump, criminalizes the publication or threat of publishing such images without consent.

Under the law, platforms are required to remove flagged content within 48 hours and prevent duplicates from reappearing. Major tech players like Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram) have backed the law, calling it an important step for online safety. Critics, however, argue that the bill may be too vague and could unintentionally suppress legitimate content, from protests to news coverage.

Despite these concerns, the Take It Down Act marks the first federal effort to regulate deepfake abuse and hold both perpetrators and platforms accountable.