The Senate has unanimously approved the bipartisan Take It Down Act, a crucial piece of legislation designed to combat the spread of sexually explicit deepfakes. This law mandates social media platforms to swiftly remove such content, implement preventative measures against future postings, and criminalize the creation and distribution of these harmful materials.
Fifteen-year-old Elliston Berry, a victim of deepfake pornography, has been instrumental in advocating for this legislation. Last year, Berry discovered manipulated nude images of herself circulating on social media, a devastating experience that disrupted her life. A classmate had taken a photo from her Instagram account and used an editing tool to create the fake nude image, which was then shared widely throughout her school. Many of Berry's friends were also targeted in this malicious cyber scheme.
With the support of Senator Ted Cruz, it took nine months to have the images removed. Cruz highlighted the disparity in how social media companies handle copyright infringement compared to deepfakes. He noted that copyrighted material is often removed within hours, yet victims of deepfake abuse often face lengthy battles to have the harmful content taken down. The Take It Down Act aims to address this imbalance by giving victims the right to have such content removed quickly and efficiently.
The bill, spearheaded by Senators Amy Klobuchar and Ted Cruz, has now moved to the House of Representatives. Berry and her supporters are urging the House to pass the bill promptly, emphasizing the urgency of protecting young people from the devastating effects of deepfake pornography. They stress that many victims lack the resources or support to fight these battles alone, and the Take It Down Act provides a critical legal framework for their protection.
