HISTORIC WIN FOR VICTIMS OF TECH-ENABLED SEXUAL ABUSE:
RAINN-Backed “Take It Down Act” Passes Congress!
Washington, D. C. (April 28, 2025) — Today Congress gave survivors of tech-enabled sexual abuse a historic win with the landslide passage of the RAINN-backed Take It Down Act, fundamentally changing the way survivors experience the internet.
Take It Down criminalizes the distribution of non-consensual AI-generated intimate images, commonly called “deepfakes,” and requires online platforms to remove these images within 48 hours of being reported. RAINN, the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the country, has been a champion of the bi-partisan legislation since it was first introduced by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) more than a year ago.
The House agreed to take up Take it Down when First Lady Melania Trump endorsed the bill and, with Senator Cruz, brought together Congressional leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) and House Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02), for a panel discussion with survivors of tech-enabled sexual abuse. RAINN’s Vice President of Public Policy Stefan Turkheimer joined the panel to discuss how RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline is seeing an increase in visitors who report they experienced such abuse.
RAINN Founder and President Scott Berkowitz said Take It Down will provide an unprecedented tool to fight digital abuse and help the thousands of people being victimized every day.
“Tech-enabled sexual abuse is the next frontier in the fight against sexual violence,” said Berkowitz. “I haven’t seen any form of abuse grow this quickly in RAINN’s 31 years, and this legislation is vital to stopping it. I am so grateful to the First Lady for her crucial support of Take It Down and her efforts to eradicate tech-enabled sexual abuse and help survivors reclaim their lives.”
“Advancing this legislation has been a key focus since I returned to my role as First Lady this past January. I am honored to have contributed to guiding it through Congress. Today’s bipartisan passage of the Take It Down Act is a powerful statement that we stand united in protecting the dignity, privacy, and safety of our children. I am thankful to the Members of Congress—both in the House and Senate—who voted to protect the well-being of our youth. Through this critical legislation and our continued focus with ‘Be Best,’ we are building a future where every child can thrive and achieve their full potential,” said First Lady Melania Trump.
Take It Down now moves to the President to be signed.
Over the last year, RAINN has worked alongside bill co-sponsors Senators Cruz and Klobuchar, as well as Representatives Maria Salazar (R-FL-27) and Madeleine Dean (D-PA-4). Leading the effort to pass this bill over the past year, RAINN spoke at Congressional hearings, championed survivors who testified about the harrowing effects of tech-enabled sexual abuse,and brought 32 survivor advocates to the Hill for RAINN’s Congressional Day of Action to help advance the legislation.
“The Take It Down Act passing Congress is a hard-fought victory for every survivor of the online sexual abuse, but also for every person who uses the internet,” said Turkheimer. “When Take It Down is signed into law, survivors and their loved ones – and indeed every person who demands a safer internet – will have a path to end the pain caused by tech-enabled sexual abuse.”
If you are covering this legislation or AI-generated non-consensual intimate image abuse, please note that RAINN’s Vice President of Public Policy, Stefan Turkheimer, is available for reaction, comment, and interview.
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About RAINN
RAINN, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization, created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, help organizations improve their sexual assault prevention and response programs, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, free, confidential help is available 24/7 by calling 800.656.HOPE (4673) or visiting hotline.RAINN.org.
Contact:
Erinn Robinson
Director of Media Relations
media@rainn.org