Trump Signs Landmark Law Targeting Sextortion and Revenge Porn

In a powerful move to defend America’s youth and restore decency online, President Donald Trump signed the “Take It Down Act” into law Monday, making the distribution of non-consensual intimate imagery including AI-generated “deepfakes” a federal crime.

Surrounded by First Lady Melania Trump and lawmakers from both parties, Trump delivered a message of zero tolerance for predators and tech platforms that enable their abuse. The law requires that social media companies like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook remove explicit material involving minors or revenge porn within 48 hours of being flagged or face federal consequences.

“This is not a partisan issue. It’s a moral one,” said First Lady Melania Trump, a fierce advocate who helped shepherd the bill through Congress. Her remarks before introducing the President emphasized protecting the most vulnerable children against digital exploitation.

The legislation was spearheaded by Rep. Brandon Guffey (R-SC) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), with support from Democrat Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Guffey’s push for the law is personal: his 17-year-old son, Gavin, tragically took his own life after falling victim to a sextortion scam.

“In addition to forcing platforms to take down this content fast, the people who post it can now face up to three years in prison,” Guffey stated. “This law will save so many teens from feeling the shame that my son faced.”

Key provisions of the Take It Down Act:

• Requires removal of CSAM and revenge porn within 48 hours

• Criminalizes sharing of real or AI-generated intimate content without consent

• Includes penalties of up to 3 years in prison for offenders

• First federal law of its kind to address AI-generated exploitation

The bill also intensifies scrutiny on Big Tech platforms, many of which have hidden behind the legal shield of Section 230 a 1996 law that absolves them of liability for content posted on their platforms.

Guffey, who is currently suing Meta (parent company of Instagram), has called for reform or repeal of Section 230:

“These are the richest companies in history. They can’t keep ignoring their role in this crisis. We need to hold them accountable.”

And he’s not alone. Growing bipartisan outrage has fueled calls for real reform in how Big Tech handles child safety, and the Trump administration has taken the lead with its Know2Protect initiative a Department of Homeland Security campaign to combat online sextortion. Even country music star John Rich has joined the effort, working to raise awareness among parents and teens.

The FBI has warned that cases of sextortion targeting minors have exploded in recent years, often involving AI-generated images, fake profiles, and anonymous apps. In many cases, victims are blackmailed or publicly humiliated, with devastating consequences.

President Trump’s decisive action marks a long-overdue response to the digital Wild West created by unchecked tech platforms and ignored by the previous administration.

This is more than a victory for parents. It’s a message to Silicon Valley: you are no longer above the law.

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