US enforces law to crack down on sexual deepfakes

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Washington DC: The United States has officially begun enforcing the ‘Take It Down Act,’ a landmark law designed to combat the proliferation of non-consensual AI-generated sexual imagery. 

Starting May 19, tech platforms are required to implement processes that allow victims to request the removal of deepfakes and to scrub the content within 48 hours of a valid request. Failure to comply now exposes social media giants to significant penalties from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The legislation, signed in 2025, specifically targets the surge in ‘nudification’ apps that allow users to virtually undress others without consent. While high-profile cases involving celebrities like Taylor Swift sparked initial outrage, the law addresses a broader epidemic of AI porn scandals targeting teenagers in schools across the country.

However, the enforcement has drawn criticism from free speech advocates. Policy experts warn that the strict takedown window incentivizes platforms to over-moderate, potentially suppressing political speech or legitimate consensual content to avoid legal risk.

 Despite these concerns, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson emphasized that protecting the vulnerable from this harmful AI abuse remains the administration's top priority.