Take It Down Act Passes the House and Heads to President's Desk

(Washington, D.C.) - Today, the House of Representatives passed the Senate version of the bipartisan, bicameral TAKE IT DOWN Act (S.146), completing its passage through Congress. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate in February 2025. The TAKE IT DOWN Act protects victims of real and deepfake 'revenge pornography' by criminalizing the publication of these harmful images, in addition to requiring websites to quickly remove them. The rising popularity of AI requires decisive federal legal protections that will empower victims of these heinous crimes, most of whom are women and girls.

You can see Rep. Salazar's remarks in front of the House of Representatives here.

"This is a historic day for parents and children facing unprecedented new challenges with technology. My TAKE IT DOWN Act will finally give innocent victims real protection from online exploitation. Websites and platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok must remove fake, compromising pornographic images within 48 hours or face consequences. No more inaction. No more excuses: if you exploit an innocent child, you will face jail time," said Rep. Salazar (FL-27).

"The TAKE IT DOWN Act's passage is a significant step forward in Congress' responsibility to protect the privacy and dignity of Americans against bad actors and the most harmful developments of AI. It takes only minutes to create a deepfake or share intimate images without consent, yet the lasting consequences devastate its victims - often girls and women. Our bill requires platforms to remove these horrifying images and videos from the internet within 48 hours. I'm deeply grateful to work with Sen. Klobuchar, Sen. Cruz, and Rep. Salazar to create this bipartisan federal law," said Rep. Dean (PA-04).

"The publication of sexually exploitative images-including AI-generated deepfakes-is a terrifying reality of the digital age. I applaud the First Lady for her leadership and the Problem Solvers Caucus for working across party lines to pass the TAKE IT DOWN Act. This is a critical first step, and we must continue working together to protect people from these reprehensible acts," said Rep. Suozzi (NY-03).

"As a father, husband, and proud South Texan, I'm glad we got this important bill across the finish line in the House and the Senate in a bipartisan way. The TAKE IT DOWN Act is a vital step in safeguarding the dignity and safety of individuals, particularly our most vulnerable. It ensures the swift removal of harmful content and holds perpetrators accountable-prioritizing the protection and well-being of those affected by deepfakes and non-consensual intimate imagery," said Rep. Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28).

"The increasing use of artificial intelligence to create and circulate deep fake pornography threatens the wellbeing and security of its victims, primarily women. Perpetrators have used deep fake pornography as a tool to harass, humiliate, and intimidate women and children online, and we need to work together to protect against these threats. This is a serious and growing issue that requires urgent action, which is why I introduced the Take It Down Act. I am thankful it has been passed by the House, and I look forward to it promptly being signed into law,"said Rep. Dingell (MI-12)

"In an age where personal privacy can be violated with a click, the House's passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act marks a critical step forward. This bipartisan legislation creates long-overdue federal safeguards against non-consensual intimate imagery and the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes. It establishes a clear legal standard: victims have the right to have these exploitative images removed, and perpetrators will be held accountable. This is a commonsense, essential measure to protect Americans, empower survivors, uphold justice, and bring our laws in line with the realities of the digital era," said Rep. Fitzpatrick (PA-01).

"There is nothing more personal than one's image and dignity. NCII is a cruel and deeply violating issue, and with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, there has been a disturbing increase in these images online. The Take It Down Act is a crucial step in personal and internet security, and I am proud to help send this bill to President Trump's desk. By introducing new protections against NCII content and criminalizing the publication of such content, we are making our world, both in person and online, safer for everyone," said Rep. Bresnahan (PA-08)

"Congress must make sure there are protections in place, especially for minors, as technology rapidly evolves. Bipartisan support for and House passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act is a critical step toward providing individuals who are victimized and inappropriately distorted through AI strong mechanisms to take action and remedy such traumatic situations," said Rep. Edwards (NC-11).

"The passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act is a historic win in the fight to protect victims of revenge porn and deepfake abuse. This victory belongs first and foremost to the heroic survivors who shared their stories and the advocates who never gave up. By requiring social media companies to take down this abusive content quickly, we are sparing victims from repeated trauma and holding predators accountable. This day would not have been possible without the courage and perseverance of Elliston Berry, Francesca Mani, Breeze Liu, and Brandon Guffey, whose powerful voices drove this legislation forward. I am especially grateful to my colleagues-including Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Maria Salazar, Rep. Madeleine Dean, First Lady Melania Trump, and House Leadership-for locking arms in this critical mission to protect Americans from online exploitation," said Sen. Ted Cruz (TX).

"We must provide victims of online abuse with the legal protections they need when intimate images are shared without their consent, especially now that deepfakes are creating horrifying new opportunities for abuse. These images can ruin lives and reputations, but now that our bipartisan legislation is becoming law, victims will be able to have this material removed from social media platforms and law enforcement can hold perpetrators accountable," said Sen. Klobuchar (MN).

Over 120 organizations representing victim advocacy groups, law enforcement, and leaders in the tech industry have voiced their support for the TAKE IT DOWN Act, including Meta, Snap, Google, Microsoft, TikTok, X, Amazon, Bumble, Match Group, Entertainment Software Association, IBM, TechNet, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Internet Works, the National Fraternal Order of Police, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE).

The TAKE IT DOWN Act addresses these issues while protecting lawful speech by:

• Criminalizing the publication of non-consensual intimate images (NCII), or the threat to publish NCII, in interstate commerce;

• Permitting the good faith disclosure of NCII to assist victims including for law enforcement or medical treatment purposes;

• Requiring websites to take down NCII within 48 hours of receiving notice from victims; and

• Requiring that computer-generated NCII meet a "reasonable person" standard for appearing to realistically depict an individual, consistent with current First Amendment jurisprudence.

Rep. Salazar reintroduced this bill in January and led the effort in the House to get it signed into law. President Trump endorsed the TAKE IT DOWN Act during a recent address to Congress. You can see his remarks here. The Act has been a legislative priority of former First Lady Melania Trump. Thanks to her strong advocacy, including a roundtable on Capitol Hill last month, this bill has now passed.

More information about the TAKE IT DOWN Act can be found here.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

The passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act is Congresswoman Salazar's ninth bill to be signed into law. Other key policies sponsored by Rep. Salazar that have been enacted into law include:

• The COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Relief Act to provide economic relief for Floridians. Implemented by the Biden Administration in March 2021.

• The Reinforcing Nicaragua's Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform (RENACER) Act to sanction the Ortega Regime in Nicaragua. Signed into law in November 2021.

• The PRICE Act to make it easier for small businesses to get federal contracts. Signed into law in February 2022.

• The Summer Barrow Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Act to reauthorize critical funding for programs that address mental health and substance abuse issues. Signed into law in December 2022.

• The REEF Act to incentivize retired Navy ships to be sunk and used as artificial reefs in marine ecosystems across America. Signed into law in December 2023.

• The RECLAIM Taxpayer Funds Act to recover billions in fraudulent government loans and restore fiscal responsibility and government accountability. Implemented by the Biden Administration in December 2023.

• The Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act to protect migratory birds and their habitat, which is critical for the Everglades. Signed into law April 2024.

• The Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act honors 60 diplomats who risked their lives during World War II to save Jews from Nazi persecution. Signed into law December 2024.

You can read more about Congresswoman Salazar's legislative victories here.