Today, the bipartisan-supported Take It Down Act passed markup by the the House Energy and Commerce Committee, giving survivors of tech-enabled sexual abuse the first real hope for justice and action. RAINN has led the effort to pass this bill, working alongside bill co-sponsors Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representatives Maria Salazar (R-FL-27) and Madeleine Dean (D-PA-4).
“We’ve worked with fierce determination for the past year to bring Take It Down forward because we know—and survivors know—that AI-assisted sexual abuse is sexual abuse and real harm is being done; real pain is caused,” said Stefan Turkheimer, RAINN vice president of public policy.
Take It Down would criminalize the distribution of non-consensual AI-generated intimate images—commonly called ‘deepfakes’—and require online platforms to remove these images within 48 hours of being reported.
Today, RAINN brought survivor advocates from across the country to speak to Congressional leaders to share their lived experiences as sexual assault survivors as part of Sexual Assault Awarenss and Prevention Month. They are joined by volunteers from RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline who are speaking on behalf of the children who they’ve helped on the hotline. Children make up more than half of the hotline’s online visitors.
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 immediate reaction, comment, and interview in either the Russell or Cannon rotunda.
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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