by Lindsay Pietroluongo
This article discusses the TAKE IT DOWN Act and how it can be a tool for individuals and ORM companies to remove harmful online content from social media platforms and web search results.
On Monday, May 19, 2025, President Trump signed the TAKE IT DOWN Act. The full name of the act is Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act. It went into effect immediately.
The act addresses digital exploitation, mainly the publication of real and AI-generated non-consensual intimate imagery (often known as “revenge porn”) and deepfakes. Those who continue to distribute the type of harmful content online that’s outlined in the act will face strict penalties.
In this article, we’ll discuss the act, including support for it and complaints against it. We’ll also discuss how the act influences online reputation management, online safety, and the ability for ORM companies to take proactive measures when protecting children, any young person, or adults on the internet.
NetReputation can help you protect your digital presence in the online world. Call us at 844-461-3632 to learn more about taking proactive measures to protect yourself online. You can also fill out the contact form below for a free consultation.
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Specifics of the TAKE IT DOWN Act: Removing Harmful Content Online
According to the summary of the act on the official U.S. federal legislative website, the bill “generally prohibits the nonconsensual online publication of intimate visual depictions of individuals, both authentic and computer-generated, and requires certain online platforms to promptly remove such depictions upon receiving notice of their existence.”
More specifically, the act prohibits intimate visual depictions in online publications that meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Visual depiction of an adult subject, where the publication did or intended to cause harm to the subject, and where the subject did not consent to the publication of the imagery. If the depiction was authentic (not generated by artificial intelligence, for example), it was created or obtained in a circumstance where the subject had a reasonable expectation of privacy.
- Visual depiction of a minor subject, where the publication intended to abuse or harass the subject, or where the imagery’s purpose was to arouse or gratify sexual desires.
Social media platforms and websites must remove the materials within 48 hours of notification by the victim. The platforms must also delete duplicate harmful content online, most likely to stop its spread. Violators could face a fine, prison time or both. Moreover, even threatening to publish an intimate visual depiction may result in criminal penalties.
You can use mitigation measures to report content, remove information from online platforms, and take control of your online reputation. Call us at 844-461-3632 for more information.
Support From Both Sides To Remove Harmful Content
The act is bipartisan legislation, meaning it has support from both the Democratic and Republican parties. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, introduced the bill.
Elliston Berry inspired the act in part. Berry was the victim of fake nudes shared on social media platforms in 2023, when she was just 14 years old. According to The Independent, Berry’s mother, Anna McAdams, reached out to Snapchat multiple times over an eight-month period to have the harmful content online removed. However, Snapchat ignored her requests.
After the bill signing, Senator Klobuchar said, “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.” She went on to say that while these actions can “ruin lives and reputations,” the government can now hold perpetrators accountable.
In his statement following the signing of the bill, Senator Cruz said, “Predators who weaponize new technology to post this exploitative filth will now rightfully face criminal consequences, and Big Tech will no longer be allowed to turn a blind eye to the spread of this vile material.”
First Lady Melania Trump’s Involvement To Promote Online Safety
The act also gained support from First Lady Melania Trump, who helped usher it through Congress.
In March 2025, Melania Trump hosted a roundtable on Capitol Hill to discuss online protection for children. During opening remarks, the First Lady said, “It’s heartbreaking to witness young teens, especially girls, grappling with the overwhelming challenges posed by malicious online content, like deepfakes. This toxic environment can be severely damaging. We must prioritize their well-being by equipping them with the support and tools necessary to navigate this hostile digital landscape. Every young person deserves a safe online space to express themself freely, without the looming threat of exploitation or harm.”
Critics Worry About Censorship-Related Issues
According to the Associated Press, critics of the TAKE IT DOWN Act worry that its broad language could lead to censorship and First Amendment issues. Of particular concern are censorship issues regarding legitimate images. This includes LGBTQ content and legal pornography that does not fall under the umbrella of illegal content.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has said that the act gives “the powerful a dangerous new route to manipulate platforms into removing lawful speech that they simply don’t like.” EFF claims the following:
- The takedown provision in the act may apply to any images of an intimate nature.
- Automated filters will flag content, which can lead to errors.
- The 48-hour takedown timeframe isn’t enough time to verify if the speech (meaning the content) is actually legal.
The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI) also released a statement about the act. CCRI says that the takedown provision “is highly susceptible to misuse and will likely be counter-productive for victims.” The statement also says the act is “unconstitutionally vague, unconstitutionally overbroad, and lacking adequate safeguards against misuse.”
The TAKE IT DOWN Act, Online Reputation Management, and Harmful Content Online
Online reputation management (ORM) and the TAKE IT DOWN Act are closely linked, as each effort has the high-level goal of protecting people from the damaging effects of harmful content online.
Moreover, the act provides victims with a legal, federal way to combat non-consensual images posted in the online world. This can make it easier for individuals and online reputation management companies to have damaging content removed from the internet quickly. Furthermore, ORM experts can then restore the victim’s digital reputation swiftly.
The longer negative content stays online, the more complex it becomes for ORM professionals to repair an individual’s reputation. With the act’s 48-hour time limit, websites have to respond rapidly to takedown notices. This can limit how much damage is done to a person’s online presence.
At NetReputation, we work with individuals to help them take control of their online reputation. Give us a call at 844-461-3632 to learn more.
Final Thoughts About Harmful Content
Many states have already banned the dissemination of explicit deepfakes and revenge porn. However, according to the AP, “the Take It Down Act is a rare example of federal regulators imposing on internet companies.”
Moreover, artificial intelligence is able to produce and disseminate harmful content online at breakneck speed. Today, any young person could be the victim of harmful content going viral. That content may include hate speech, non-consensual imagery, or other forms of extremely damaging information.
We recognize the risks of the act, including the potential for over-removal that could result in free speech issues. However, we also acknowledge that there are many instances when the act will help victims to reclaim their privacy as quickly as possible.
By leveraging the TAKE IT DOWN Act’s legal obligations, online reputation management professionals have a new tool for helping individuals to remove damaging content from web results so they can create a positive online identity.
We offer ORM solutions for individuals suffering from harmful content online. Get started today with a free consultation with one of our experts. Call us at 844-461-3632 or fill out the contact form below to discuss your online safety.