Melania Trump emerged from a four-year public speaking hiatus to champion a crucial legislative initiative on Capitol Hill.
According to Fox News, the first lady participated in a roundtable discussion Monday with lawmakers and victims to advocate for the Take It Down Act, which aims to criminalize revenge porn and AI-generated explicit imagery.
The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senators Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar, has already cleared the Senate unanimously. The bill would mandate prison sentences for sharing non-consensual intimate images and require social media platforms to remove such content within 48 hours of notification.
Elliston Berry, a 15-year-old from Texas, recounted her traumatic experience when AI-generated explicit images of her circulated on social media. The incident occurred in 2023 when she was just 14 years old, leaving her feeling ashamed and afraid to attend school.
Another victim, Francesca Mani from New Jersey, emphasized the need for schools to implement serious consequences for AI exploitation and harassment. Her story highlighted how teenagers, while not fully versed in laws, inherently understand when something is morally wrong.
The issue extends beyond young victims, as demonstrated by Breeze Liu's account of discovering AI-generated pornographic content of herself on adult websites in 2020. The 24-year-old described the devastating impact of such violations on adult victims.
House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed urgency in bringing the Take It Down Act to a floor vote, acknowledging the need for laws to keep pace with advancing technology. The legislation has garnered support from both Republicans and Democrats, including Representatives Ro Khanna and Maria Salazar.
Melania Trump, while praising the bipartisan effort, noted disappointment in the limited Democratic presence at the roundtable. She emphasized the importance of prioritizing children's safety over partisan politics.
First Lady Trump delivered the following statement:
In today's AI-driven world, the threat of privacy breaches is alarmingly high. As organizations harness the power of our data, the risk of unauthorized access and misuses of personal information escalates. We must prioritize robust security measures and uphold strict ethical standards to protect individual privacy.
The proposed legislation establishes severe consequences for offenders, with penalties reaching up to three years of imprisonment for sharing non-consensual intimate images of minors. Adult victim cases would carry maximum sentences of two years.
Representative Maria Salazar highlighted the bill's strict requirements for tech companies, mandating content removal within 48 hours. The measure aims to hold platforms accountable for their role in perpetuating digital abuse.
South Carolina state Representative Brandon Guffey shared the tragic story of losing his 17-year-old son to suicide following a sextortion scam, underlining the devastating real-world consequences of online exploitation.
First Lady Melania Trump returned to public advocacy by leading a critical discussion on protecting individuals from online exploitation through the Take It Down Act. The bipartisan legislation addresses the growing threat of AI-generated explicit imagery and revenge porn by establishing federal criminal penalties and requiring swift action from social media platforms. With support from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, the bill aims to provide justice for victims while creating a safer digital environment for all Americans. Following its unanimous Senate passage, the legislation awaits House consideration before potentially reaching President Trump's desk for signature.
