Bipartisan bill to criminalize the publication of fake explicit images and require websites to remove them heads to the House
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, December 11th, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) will host a press conference celebrating unanimous Senate passage of his bipartisan TAKE IT DOWN Act, which now moves to the House for consideration. Sen. Cruz will be joined by the TAKE IT DOWN Act’s lead House sponsor Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), as well as victims and advocates for legislation to protect against online sexual exploitation.
The TAKE IT DOWN Act, which Sen. Cruz introduced with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), would criminalize the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including AI-generated NCII (commonly referred to as “deepfake revenge pornography”), and require social media and similar websites to have in place procedures to remove such content within 48 hours of notice from a victim.
Reps. Salazar and Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) have introduced companion legislation in the House. The TAKE IT DOWN Act has received widespread support from nearly 90 organizations, including victim advocacy groups, law enforcement, and tech industry leaders.
WHO:
- U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas)
- U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.-27)
- Ms. Elliston Berry, high school student and advocate for fellow victims of deepfake pornography
- Ms. Francesca Mani, high school student and advocate for ethical technology and youth empowerment
- S.C. State Rep. Brandon Guffey, father of victim of online sexual extortion and advocate for legislation to protect future victims
- Ms. Breeze Liu, victim of deepfake pornography and founder of software to allow victims to identify and remove fake and abusive content
- Ms. Samantha McCoy, victim of revenge pornography, attorney, and advocate for sexual assault survivors
WHERE: SVC 210
RSVP: Please RSVP to Christian_McMullen@commerce.senate.gov and bethany_stevens@cruz.senate.gov if you plan to attend.
