Congress Passes Bipartisan Legislation Addressing Deepfakes and Revenge Porn

In a significant bipartisan action, the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill designed to combat the dissemination of deepfakes and nonconsensual explicit material online. The “Take It Down” Act was sanctioned on Monday by an overwhelming 409-2 vote, following its prior passage in the Senate.

The legislation, which has garnered support from both sides of the aisle and notable public figures like First Lady Melania Trump, is now headed to President Donald Trump’s desk, where it is anticipated to be enacted into law.

Initially introduced in 2024 by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the Take It Down Act requires that technology platforms eliminate nonconsensual intimate images—such as revenge porn and AI-generated deepfakes—within 48 hours of receiving a takedown request. Companies that do not comply risk facing legal repercussions from the Federal Trade Commission.

In addition to holding platforms accountable, the legislation also imposes criminal penalties on individuals who create or disseminate such content. Under the new law, the act of publishing or even threatening to publish explicit images without consent would be classified as a federal offense, subject to fines and possible imprisonment.

While the bill has garnered considerable backing, it has also sparked apprehension among digital rights advocates. Groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation caution that the law could be exploited to stifle lawful expression and that valid content might be erroneously removed.

Despite these worries, numerous major tech firms, including Snapchat and Roblox, have openly supported the legislation, indicating a readiness to align with its enforcement.

The Take It Down Act is a component of a larger legislative effort to tackle the challenges presented by artificial intelligence and manipulated media. Other bills proposed in this session include the NO FAKES Act of 2025, aimed at safeguarding individuals from unauthorized AI replication of their voices, and the Edited and Deepfaked Media Act of 2025, which seeks to promote transparency and integrity in AI-generated content.

As Congress continues to navigate the ramifications of emerging technologies, the adoption of the Take It Down Act represents a pivotal advancement toward regulating harmful digital content and safeguarding individuals’ privacy in the digital era.