TAKE IT DOWN Act

The TAKE IT DOWN Act (Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act) represents a monumental shift in protecting victims—especially children and survivors of tech-enabled sexual abuse—from exploitation in the digital age.

What the TAKE IT DOWN Act Does

For years, survivors of image-based sexual abuse have faced impossible odds: legal systems that failed to protect them, tech platforms that refused to act, and laws that didn’t account for AI-generated images. The TAKE IT DOWN Act changes that.

Key Provisions of TAKE IT DOWN

1. Criminalizes NCII and Threats to Publish

• Makes it a federal crime to knowingly share or threaten to share NCII, including AI-generated images that depict real people
•  Clarifies that consent to create an image does not mean consent to share it

2. Mandates Swift Removal from Platforms

• Requires websites and online platforms to remove NCII within 48 hours of a survivor’s verified request
• Platforms must also make reasonable efforts to remove duplicates or reposts
• Enforcement falls under the authority of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

3. Protects Those Acting in Good Faith

• Shields medical professionals, law enforcement, and others who disclose NCII responsibly and ethically

4. Preserves Free Speech

• Targets only the knowing publication of NCII
• Includes protections for journalistic, artistic, and lawful speech under the First Amendment

Timeline: The Bill’s Journey to Passage

• April 2024 – Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduce S.4569, the TAKE IT DOWN Act.

• June 2024 – Companion bill H.R.8989 introduced in the House by Reps. Maria Salazar (R-FL) and Madeleine Dean (D-PA).

• September 2024 – The Senate bill receives bipartisan support in committee hearings, with key survivor testimony and support from anti-violence organizations, including RAINN.

• December 2024 – The Senate passes S.4569; however, the bill does not pass the House before the end of the 118th Congress.

• January 2025 – Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) re-introduce the TAKE IT DOWN Act as S.146, and companion bill H.R.633 is re-introduced in the House by Reps. Maria Salazar (R-FL) and Madeleine Dean (D-PA).

• February 2025 – The Senate passes S.146 by an overwhelming majority.

• April 2025 – After a hearing that included support from House leadership and the First Lady, as well as testimony from RAINN, the bill was scheduled for markup, and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce passes H.R.633.

• April 2025 – The House passes S.146, and the legislation heads to the President’s desk for signature. 
• May 2025 – On May 19, 2025, President Trump signs the TAKE IT DOWN Act into law in a ceremony attended by survivors, advocates, and representatives from RAINN.

Support From Survivors, Celebrities, & Advocates

Celebrities and survivor-advocates have used their platforms to champion the TAKE IT DOWN Act.

• Paris Hilton, herself a survivor of image-based abuse, signed onto a letter supporting this legislation.

• First Lady Melania Trump publicly endorsed the bill as part of her anti-cyberbullying efforts.

• Survivor groups nationwide sent petitions, held rallies, and met with lawmakers to push for urgent passage.

RAINN’s Role in Making This Law a Reality

RAINN was at the forefront of this fight for more than a year. From shaping the bill’s language to advising lawmakers and training advocates, our policy team has worked tirelessly behind the scenes.

“Tech-enabled sexual abuse is the next frontier in the fight against sexual violence,” said RAINN Founder and President Scott 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 abuse and help survivors reclaim their lives.”

“The TAKE IT DOWN Act becoming law is a hard-fought victory for every survivor of the online sexual abuse and for every person who uses the internet,” said Stefan Turkheimer, vice president of public policy at RAINN “When TAKE IT DOWN was signed into law, survivors and their loved ones—and indeed every person who demands a safer internet—gained a path to end the pain caused by tech-enable sexual abuse.”

“It’s encouraging to see such strong bipartisan consensus on an issue like this,” said Karrie Delaney, RAINN’s director of federal affairs. “It shows how universal and urgent this problem is. The passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act proves that survivors’ voices can reshape federal law.”

What’s Next?

RAINN will continue working to ensure this law is implemented effectively. We’re advocating for:

• Public education campaigns to raise awareness
• Clear reporting tools on all platforms
• Survivor-centered enforcement processes     

The TAKE IT DOWN Act Isn’t the End—It’s a Beginning

We’re not stopping the fight. Together, we can fuel the next big change toward a safer, more just world for survivors.

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