Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act (TAKE IT DOWN Act), Pub. L. 119-12

In forceLawBinding

Makes it a federal crime to knowingly publish non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated 'digital forgeries', and threats to do so. Since 19 May 2026 'covered platforms' must run a notice-and-removal process and take down reported images and known identical copies within 48 hours, enforced by the FTC.

Why it matters

Any platform hosting user-generated images or video (including AI image generators) needs a working NCII takedown channel and a 48-hour removal workflow; the FTC is already sending warning letters.

What it requires

Prohibited usesConsumer rightsPenalties

Penalties

Criminal: up to 2 years' prison (adult victims) or 3 years (minors). Platforms: treated as an FTC rule violation; FTC cites civil penalties up to $53,088 per violation

SourceGovInfo (U.S. Government Publishing Office): https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-119publ12/html/PLAW-119publ12.htm Secondary: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/05/ftc-begins-enforcing-take-it-down-act Checked against the source on 4 Oct 2026. Platform compliance date 19 May 2026. FTC launched TakeItDown.ftc.gov on 19 May 2026 and sent warning letters to 12 'nudify' services on 20 May 2026.

Cite this record

Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act (TAKE IT DOWN Act), Pub. L. 119-12. U.S. Congress. Status: In force. wheresthe.ai, https://wheresthe.ai/rule/us-take-it-down-act-2025/ (verified 4 Oct 2026).

Line of Thought

Developments connected to this rule

What has happened that this rule shapes, or that shapes it. Pick one to keep following the thread.

DevelopmentFTC begins enforcing TAKE IT DOWN Act's 48-hour removal duty for intimate deepfakes19 May 2026 · Enforcement or ruling · US
DevelopmentCSET study of PLA tenders maps China's military AI shopping list17 Feb 2026 · Research · CN
DevelopmentOpenAI agrees to deploy its models on Department of War classified networks28 Feb 2026 · Deal · US
DevelopmentPentagon labels Anthropic a supply-chain risk after it refuses to drop two limits27 Feb 2026 · Enforcement or ruling · US
DevelopmentMicrosoft cuts an Israeli defence unit's access to Azure storage and AI services25 Sep 2025 · Enforcement or ruling · IL, US

Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act (TAKE IT DOWN Act), Pub. L. 119-12

Why it matters

What it requires

Penalties

Cite this record

Developments connected to this rule

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