U.S. President Donald Trump signed the "Take it Down Act," which criminalizes publishing sexually explicit deepfakes and images without consent.
The law addresses the growing concern over AI-generated deepfakes used to exploit and harass individuals. The first lady, Melania Trump, played a key role in advocating for the bill's passage through Congress.
Key points of the "Take it Down Act":
Violators face restitution and criminal penalties, including imprisonment.
Websites must remove flagged images and videos within 48 hours.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will enforce the new regulations.
The legislation gained bipartisan support, passing the House with a 409-2 vote and the Senate unanimously. Some free speech advocates express concerns about potential censorship of legitimate content.
Several tech platforms and organizations already assist in removing explicit images, but the new law aims to create a more comprehensive and enforceable framework.