TAKE IT DOWN Act
Summary
The TAKE IT DOWN Act makes it a federal crime to knowingly publish intimate visual depictions of people without their consent. This applies to both real photographs and computer-generated images (deepfakes) that realistically depict actual individuals. The law recognizes that consent to create an image does not mean consent to share it. Violations can result in criminal penalties, with harsher sentences for images involving minors.
The law requires major online platforms and social media services to establish systems for removing such content. When someone reports a nonconsensual intimate image to a covered platform, the platform must remove it within 48 hours of receiving the report. Platforms have until May 19, 2026 to set up these removal procedures, though the criminal prohibition takes effect immediately.
