Trump Signs ‘Take It Down’ Act Criminalising Revenge Porn And Deepfakes

In a historic Rose Garden ceremony, President Donald Trump signed the Take It Down Act into legislation, a bipartisan invoice aimed toward defending youngsters and households from on-line exploitation. First Lady Melania Trump, a key advocate for the laws, joined the President within the ceremony, marking a big milestone for her Be Best initiative. 

The new legislation makes it a federal crime to “knowingly publish” or threaten to publish intimate photos with out consent, together with AI-generated “deepfakes”, and requires social media firms to take away such content material inside 48 hours of a sufferer’s request. The web sites and social media additionally endure the onus of taking steps to delete any duplicates.

US Outlaws ‘Revenge Porn’, Donald Trump and US First Lady signal Bill@VishalV054 reviews pic.twitter.com/EE2M3BaFCa

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“AI and social media are the digital candy for the next generation, sweet addictive and engineered to have an impact on the cognitive development of our children,” Melania Trump stated. “But unlike sugar, these new technologies can be weaponised, shape beliefs and, sadly, affect emotions and even be deadly.”

President Trump emphasised the necessity to defend ladies and kids from on-line exploitation, stating, “Countless ladies have been harassed with deepfakes and different specific photos distributed towards their will… Today, we’re making it completely unlawful.” The President additionally recommended Melania Trump for her management on the difficulty, saying, “I need to thank Melania in your management on this essential concern. America is blessed to have such a devoted and compassionate First Lady.”

Melania Trump in her first solo look urged members of Congress to cross the invoice in March. “It’s heartbreaking to witness younger teenagers, particularly women, grappling with the overwhelming challenges posed by malicious on-line content material, like deepfakes,” she stated throughout a roundtable discussing the invoice on 3 March.

The Take It Down Act acquired overwhelming bipartisan assist in Congress, passing the House by a 409-2 vote and clearing the Senate by unanimous consent. 

The legislation has been hailed as a significant victory for victims of on-line exploitation, with many advocates and lawmakers expressing gratitude for the President’s signature. As Melania Trump famous, “Today, by means of the ‘TAKE IT DOWN’ Act, we affirm that the well-being of our kids is central to the way forward for our households and America”.

The invoice was sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz and Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, each Republicans. After the invoice was handed by the House, Melania Trump stated that bipartisan vote proved to be a “powerful statement that we stand united in protecting the dignity, privacy and safety of our children”.

On one other be aware, Trump stated, “And I’m going to use that bill for myself, too, if you don’t mind”, including that there is no one who “gets treated worse than I do online. Nobody.”

Tech firms comparable to Meta, TikTok and Google, have additionally supported the laws. However, some critics have come ahead to say that the legislation raises considerations about privateness and free speech infringement.