When it come to digital rights and protection , the United States ’ federal administration has generally conk out to institute comprehensive legislation . On Monday , Congress seemed to make progress by nearly unanimouslypassing a bill to battle nonconsensual intimate figure online . But as the bill head to President Trump , who already voiced his intention to contract it , digital rightfulness advocates warn that a combination of vague language and lack of safeguard makes it right for misuse .
Introduced by Sens . Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar in 2024 , theTake It Down Actcriminalizes the distribution of nonconsensual inner ikon ( NCII ) which includes “ revenge porn ” and AI deepfakes . It also require specific platform to establish processes to report NCII and off offending content within 48 hours of notification .
The bill has garner bipartisan support , including from Trump ’s own family as his wife , Melania , host a White House roundtable about it in March . That same month , Trumptold Congressthat he “ look[s ] forward to signing that card into law ” during his address at a joint academic session . He bring , “ I ’m going to use that poster for myself too if you do n’t mind because nobody gets treated bad than I do online , nobody . ”
Close up of a person typing on a laptop keyboard© Getty
In February , the bill unanimously passed the Senate , and it empty the House with a 409 - 2 balloting , which Cruz lionize as a “ historic winnings . ” In astatement , Cruz said , “ By involve social medium companies to take down this opprobrious content quickly , we are spare dupe from double injury and support piranha accountable . ”
“ These epitome can ruin lives and reputations , ” Klobuchar said in the same instruction . “ victim will now be capable to have this stuff remove from social medium platform and constabulary enforcement can hold perpetrators accountable . ”
Although the majority of states have law forbid nonconsensual pornography , they do n’t adequately protect a produce puddle of victims . In a2019 study , one of twelve participants report victimization at least once in their lives , with women reporting higher rates of victimization . AsAI further accelerates the issueby generating substance featuring grownup and children , states alsostruggle to determine and regulate “ deepfakes ” .
On its surface , the Take It Down Act should be celebrated as a major advancement . But on Monday , the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative , which focuses on combating nonconsensual trope , outlinednumerous government issue , include that the takedown provision is “ extremely susceptible to misuse and will likely be antagonistic - fat for dupe . ” For example , there are n’t any safe-conduct against fake complaints , so it can easily be embezzle to remove other substance .
CCRI is n’t alone in its unfavorable judgment . In astatement , the Electronic Frontier Foundation also criticized the takedown provision , committal to writing , “ Services will bank on automated filters , which are infamously blunt tools . ” With the law ’s tight timeframe , chopine will in all likelihood “ choose to avoid the onerous effectual peril by simply depublishing ” content before confirm whether it ’s actually a job .
These are n’t unwarranted concern . Whilesome arguethat the legislation is levelheaded and can not be misused by bad - faith someone , including government officials , there are examples to attend to . Between June 2019 and January 2020 , the Digital Millennium Copyright Act receivedover thirty thousand fictitious notices , which may be attempts to censor on-line voice communication orprotect the repute of public officials . YouTubefamouslyhas a squelcher first , ask questions later copyright policy .
With the Take It Down Act expected to become law soon , other pending lawmaking like theDEFIANCE Act , which provide deepfake victims to action those who make , share , and have them , could work up on its protections . But in astatement , Public Knowledge ’s Senior Policy Counsel , Nick Garcia , said , “ This was a chance to get it correct , but unfortunately , Congress only got it half right — and half right laws can do real damage . ”
DeepfakesNCIIpolicyRevenge porn
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