What this law does
The Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act, known as the Take It Down Act, was enacted as Public Law 119-12. It does two principal things.
First, it makes it a federal crime to knowingly publish, or threaten to publish, nonconsensual intimate visual depictions of an identifiable person, whether the imagery is authentic or a digital forgery produced using artificial intelligence or other software. The criminal provisions cover both adult and minor victims, with enhanced penalties when the subject is a minor.
Second, it requires covered online platforms to establish a clear notice-and-removal process. When a victim or an authorized representative submits a valid request, the platform must remove the reported content within 48 hours and make reasonable efforts to identify and remove known identical copies. The Federal Trade Commission enforces these requirements as a violation of an FTC rule.
Key dates
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| February 13, 2025 | Senate passes S.146 by unanimous consent. |
| April 28, 2025 | House passes the bill by a vote of 409 to 2. |
| May 19, 2025 | President signs the Act into law as Public Law 119-12. |
| May 19, 2026 | Section 3 platform notice-and-removal requirements become enforceable by the FTC. |
In brief
Who is protected
Any identifiable person depicted in a nonconsensual intimate image or digital forgery, including minors. The law protects subjects regardless of whether they hold an account on the platform hosting the content.
What is covered
Authentic intimate photos and videos shared without consent, and digital forgeries created or altered through software, mobile applications, or artificial intelligence to depict an identifiable person.
Who must comply
Covered platforms include a broad range of websites, applications, and online services that host user-generated content, including social media, messaging, image and video sharing, and gaming platforms.
If you are the subject of a nonconsensual intimate image online, you have the right to request its removal from any covered platform. See the Your Rights page for a step-by-step explanation of the notice-and-removal process and what to do if a platform does not respond.
Civil penalties for noncompliant platforms
A violation of the Take It Down Act is treated as a violation of an FTC rule. The Federal Trade Commission has indicated that platforms that fail to comply may face civil penalties of up to $53,088 per violation, in addition to other remedies available under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
Where to learn more
The pages in this resource summarize the Act in plain language and link to authoritative primary sources, including the statutory text on Congress.gov and the FTC's compliance guidance. Start with About the Act for legislative history and definitions, Platform Obligations for the compliance framework, or Resources for official links and victim-support organizations.