Snap and other social media platforms have joined a diverse group supporting the contentious Take It Down Act , designed to address the persistent issue of non-consensual explicit content (NCEC) and deepfakes on the internet.
"This law is a critical step not only in helping to protect people from having their private images shared without permission, but also in limiting the distribution of AI-generated intimate images that can be just as damaging," wrote the social media company. "The TAKE IT DOWN Act aligns with and complements our ongoing efforts to stop bad actors from distributing NCII and child sexual exploitation and abuse imagery (CSEAI) online."
David Baszucki, who is one of the co-founders of Roblox, also declared their backing for the bill through the platform . "The ability to rapidly share images and videos is one of the reasons the internet can be a complex and dangerous place for children," he wrote. "This content is incredibly sensitive, and we need greater government oversight for apps that allow image and video sharing. Currently, Roblox does not support this functionality."
The bicameral bill was proposed by Senator Ted Cruz back in June and secured approval through a Senate vote this February. This law criminalizes the publication or threat of sharing explicit material without consent under federal jurisdiction, covering even AI-generated visuals. It also holds social networking sites accountable for eliminating such initial posts along with their replicas within two days. Furthermore, the FTC will be endowed with additional authority to penalize platforms not adhering to these regulations.
In March, Mrs. Melania Trump, the First Lady, stepped forward to endorse the bill , as well.
The Take It Down Act raises worries regarding privacy and censorship.
Despite its bipartisan and celebrity support Free speech and privacy proponents have strongly objected to the legislation, with groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, and the Woodhull Freedom Foundation voicing their disapproval. They even sent a letter to the Senate expressing their opposition. These organizations argue that the bill’s present notice and takedown system could lead to far-reaching effects beyond just non-NCII material, potentially paving the way for censoring lawful pornographic content, journalistic pieces, and political discourse.
These actions would violate the Constitution. , proponents contend, and might also infringe on user privacy — particularly undermining the effectiveness of end-to-end encryption — should platforms allocate more resources toward automated detection systems and other methods for surveilling users’ communications.
The Take It Down Act is not the sole legislation aiming to create legal and civil avenues for victims of NCII; others include the Defiance Act of 2024, which is also under consideration. Interrupt Clear Fake Pictures and Unwanted Alterations The initiative was launched by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, and Democratic Representative and co-lead sponsor Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Furthermore, corporations such as Roblox have agreed to support COPPA 2.0, which is an amendment to current legislation designed to expand online data privacy protection for minors up to the age of 17.
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