Concord
S 146 · 119th Congress

TAKE IT DOWN Act

Brief

Executive summary AI-generated
The TAKE IT DOWN Act (S 146), introduced by Senator Ted Cruz on January 16, 2025, aims to prohibit the nonconsensual online publication of intimate visual depictions, including both authentic and computer-generated images. The bill mandates that online platforms remove such depictions within 48 hours of receiving notice and establishes penalties for violators, including mandatory restitution and potential criminal charges. As of May 19, 2025, the bill has successfully passed through Congress and has become Public Law No: 119-12, with bipartisan support reflected in its 21 cosponsors, comprising 11 Democrats and 10 Republicans. The legislation addresses issues related to child safety and welfare, as well as crimes against children, amid growing concerns over digital exploitation.

Generated 1 month ago · model gpt-4o-mini · AI-generated; the facts below are from the record.

Sponsor
Ted Cruz
Policy area
Science, Technology, Communications
Introduced
2025-01-16
Chamber
Senate
Status
2025-05-19 — Became Public Law No: 119-12.
Coalition
21 cosponsors (18 original) D 11 R 10
19 actions on file 1 recorded vote
Subjects
Child safety and welfare Crimes against children Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Digital media Fraud offenses and financial crimes Internet, web applications, social media Pornography Sex offenses
Latest CRS summary — Introduced in Senate · 2025-01-16

Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act or the TAKE IT DOWN Act This 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.  Specifically, the bill prohibits the online publication of intimate visual depictions of an adult subject where publication is intended to cause or does cause harm to the subject, and where the depiction was published without the subject’s consent or, in the case of an authentic depiction, was created or obtained under circumstances where the adult had a reasonable expectation of privacy; or a minor subject where publication is intended to abuse or harass the minor or to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person.  Violators are subject to mandatory restitution and criminal penalties, including prison, a fine, or both. Threats to publish intimate visual depictions of a subject are similarly prohibited under the bill and subject to criminal penalties.   Separately, covered platforms must establish a process through which subjects of intimate visual depictions may notify the platform of the existence of, and request removal of, an intimate visual depiction including the subject that was published without the subject’s consent. Covered platforms must remove such depictions within 48 hours of notification. Under the bill,  covered platforms are defined as public websites, online services, or applications that primarily provide a forum for user-generated content.

Generating…

Latest action

2025-05-19 — Became Public Law No: 119-12.

Summaries

Introduced in Senate · 2025-01-16

Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act or the TAKE IT DOWN Act

This 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. 

Specifically, the bill prohibits the online publication of intimate visual depictions of

  • an adult subject where publication is intended to cause or does cause harm to the subject, and where the depiction was published without the subject’s consent or, in the case of an authentic depiction, was created or obtained under circumstances where the adult had a reasonable expectation of privacy; or
  • a minor subject where publication is intended to abuse or harass the minor or to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person. 

Violators are subject to mandatory restitution and criminal penalties, including prison, a fine, or both. Threats to publish intimate visual depictions of a subject are similarly prohibited under the bill and subject to criminal penalties.  

Separately, covered platforms must establish a process through which subjects of intimate visual depictions may notify the platform of the existence of, and request removal of, an intimate visual depiction including the subject that was published without the subject’s consent. Covered platforms must remove such depictions within 48 hours of notification. Under the bill, covered platforms are defined as public websites, online services, or applications that primarily provide a forum for user-generated content.

Fetched 2 months ago.

Sponsor

Ted Cruz

Cosponsors

Show all 21 cosponsors

Fetched 2 months ago.

Vote history

  • H 104 · 119th · 2025-04-28 · S 146 Passed
    On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass
    Y 409 · N 2 · NV 22

Action history

  • 2025-05-19 Became Public Law No: 119-12. · Library of Congress
  • 2025-05-19 Became Public Law No: 119-12. · Library of Congress
  • 2025-05-19 Signed by President. · Library of Congress
  • 2025-05-19 Signed by President. · Library of Congress
  • 2025-05-19 Presented to President. · House floor actions
  • 2025-05-19 Presented to President. · Library of Congress
  • 2025-04-28 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. · House floor actions
  • 2025-04-28 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 409 - 2 (Roll no. 104). (text: CR H1644-1645) · House floor actions
Show all 19 actions
  • 2025-04-28 Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 409 - 2 (Roll no. 104). (text: CR H1644-1645: 1) · Library of Congress
  • 2025-04-28 Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1669) · House floor actions
  • 2025-04-28 At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. · House floor actions
  • 2025-04-28 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 146. · House floor actions
  • 2025-04-28 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1644-1643) · House floor actions
  • 2025-04-28 Mr. Bilirakis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. · House floor actions
  • 2025-02-14 Held at the desk. · House floor actions
  • 2025-02-14 Received in the House. · House floor actions
  • 2025-02-13 Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. · Library of Congress
  • 2025-02-13 Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent. · Library of Congress
  • 2025-01-16 Introduced in Senate · Library of Congress

Fetched 2 months ago.

Subjects

Child safety and welfareCrimes against childrenCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationDigital mediaFraud offenses and financial crimesInternet, web applications, social mediaPornographySex offenses

Fetched 2 months ago.

Titles

  • Short Titles from ENR (Enrolled) bill text · Joint
    Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act
  • Short Titles from ENR (Enrolled) bill text · Joint
    TAKE IT DOWN Act
  • Short Title(s) as Introduced
    TAKE IT DOWN Act
  • Short Title(s) as Introduced
    Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act
Show all 8 titles
  • Official Title as Introduced
    A bill to require covered platforms to remove nonconsensual intimate visual depictions, and for other purposes.
  • Display Title
    TAKE IT DOWN Act
  • Short Title(s) as Passed Senate · Senate
    TAKE IT DOWN Act
  • Short Title(s) as Passed Senate · Senate
    Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act

Fetched 2 months ago.