Donald Trump signs landmark federal law against revenge porn and AI-generated sexual content
Praised by victims’ mothers but criticized for vague legal terms, this law marks a turning point in the U.S. fight against non-consensual explicit content.
First-ever federal law targeting sexual deepfakes
On Monday, Donald Trump signed the Take It Down Act, a groundbreaking federal law that criminalizes the distribution of non-consensual sexual images — whether real or AI-generated. Backed by both parties and supported by Melania Trump, the bill fills a major legal gap in the U.S. Until now, only states like California and Florida punished the creation and distribution of such content.
“This will be the very first federal law to tackle the spread of explicit and fake images without a person’s consent,” said President Trump. Under the law, individuals who knowingly distribute such content could face up to three years in prison.
Platforms face 48-hour takedown deadline
Beyond targeting offenders, the law also holds digital platforms accountable. Websites and social media networks now have 48 hours to remove reported non-consensual images or face civil penalties. This new rule shifts the burden of enforcement to content hosts.
“This finally gives victims and their families a legal tool,” said Dorota Mani, the mother of a teenager targeted by deepfakes. For her, the law represents a real step forward after months of helplessness dealing with unresponsive platforms.
The trauma of girls targeted by AI-generated abuse
First Lady Melania Trump, personally involved in the issue, invited several teenage victims to the White House. Among them was a Texas high school student who discovered in late 2023 hyper-realistic sexual deepfakes of herself and classmates. These were created without consent by a fellow student and shared via Snapchat.
The emotional toll was severe. “The girls were just crying and crying nonstop. They were ashamed,” their mother, Anna Berry McAdams, told AFP. She fears long-term consequences: “This could affect them for the rest of their lives,” she warned, highlighting victims’ powerlessness and the lack of legal recourse.
Applause and concern over legal clarity
While widely praised, the law also raises concerns. “Its impact will depend on strict enforcement and real penalties,” said Renée Cummings, an AI ethicist at the University of Virginia. She stressed the importance of adapting laws to the fast-evolving digital threats.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) also issued a warning: “Protecting victims is a legitimate goal, but good intentions are not enough. Vague definitions and lack of safeguards could lead to censorship.”
As AI tools make it easier to create fake explicit content, this federal law represents a major step for the U.S. But the real test lies ahead: can it truly curb a problem that’s as viral as it is invisible?