The Take It Down Act, championed by First Lady Melania Trump and several prominent lawmakers, moves forward to address the growing concern of digital exploitation.

According to Breitbart, the House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved legislation that criminalizes the posting of both real and AI-generated sexually explicit photos without consent, with a decisive vote of 409-2.

The groundbreaking bill, introduced by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), requires online platforms to promptly remove non-consensual intimate visual depictions upon notification. The legislation has garnered support across party lines, with co-sponsors including Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and several others representing both major political parties.

Bipartisan effort tackles digital exploitation

Senator Cruz emphasized the significance of cross-party collaboration in addressing this critical issue. The bill's unanimous passage in the Senate, with a 100-0 vote, demonstrates the united front against digital exploitation. The legislation specifically targets platforms that have been reluctant to remove harmful content, providing victims with legal recourse to demand the removal of non-consensual intimate images.

First Lady Melania Trump has been instrumental in advancing this legislation since returning to her role in January 2025. Her involvement highlights the administration's commitment to protecting young people from online abuse. During a roundtable discussion in March, she addressed the urgency of the situation.

The inspiration behind the bill comes from a real-life case involving Elliston Berry, whose experience with an AI-generated explicit image remained on Snapchat for nearly a year despite requests for removal. This case exemplifies the challenges victims face when seeking content removal from tech platforms.

First Lady's advocacy strengthens legislative push

Melania Trump shared her perspective during the roundtable discussion:

I'm here with you today with a common goal, to protect our youth from online harm. The widespread presence of abusive behavior in the digital domain affects the daily lives of our children, families and communities. Addressing this issue is essential for fostering a safe, and supportive environment for our young people.

The legislation specifically addresses both authentic and computer-generated intimate visual depictions, recognizing the evolving nature of digital threats. It establishes clear guidelines for online platforms to follow when receiving removal requests, ensuring prompt action to protect victims.

Senator Cruz highlighted the bill's importance during an ABC News interview:

Well, actually a lot more than you would think. My legislation, the Take It Down Act — it's already passed the Senate 100-0. Tonight it's going to pass the House of Representatives, and President Trump is going to sign it into law. It protects the victims of these non-consensual intimate images, it also gives you a right to demand that that garbage be taken down, because many of the tech platforms refuse to take the content down. This gives a legal right, and it protects young girls and young women, and it's a huge bipartisan victory that we're winning tonight.

Victory for online safety measures

President Trump's anticipated signing of the bill represents a significant step forward in digital protection measures. The legislation's comprehensive approach addresses both traditional non-consensual intimate images and the emerging threat of AI-generated content.

The bill's passage demonstrates rare bipartisan cooperation in today's political landscape. Its provisions extend beyond simple content removal, establishing a framework for victim protection and platform accountability.

Looking ahead to implementation

The Take It Down Act, spearheaded by Senator Ted Cruz and supported by First Lady Melania Trump, has successfully passed through Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support, securing a 409-2 vote in the House of Representatives after unanimous Senate approval. The legislation addresses the posting of non-consensual intimate photos, both real and AI-generated, by requiring online platforms to remove such content promptly upon notification.

The bill, inspired by Elliston Berry's year-long struggle to remove an AI-generated explicit image from Snapchat, now awaits President Trump's signature to become law. Once enacted, it will provide victims with legal recourse to demand content removal and establish clear guidelines for online platforms to protect users from digital exploitation.