'Take It Down': Melania Trump-Backed Cyber Bill Passes House, Heads to President's Desk

Melania Trump has been lobbying for months for the TAKE IT DOWN Act (Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks), a measure that would crack down on “deep fake” porn—explicit AI-generated images depicting real people—and other nonconsensual posting of intimate pictures.

On Monday, her work paid off as the House of Representatives passed the bill by a whopping 409-2 margin. It now heads to the president’s desk for his signature (and I’m betting he won’t use an autopen):

Today, the House passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act to create a safer digital future and protect our kids from deepfake exploitation.

Thank you to @FLOTUS, @RepMariaSalazar, and @SenTedCruz for leading this crucial legislation. pic.twitter.com/6fUyy0YNHc
— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) April 28, 2025

Social media sites and other platforms would be required to take down nonconsensual material:

The measure "generally prohibits the nonconsensual online publication of intimate visual depictions of individuals, both authentic and computer-generated, and requires certain online platforms to promptly remove such depictions upon receiving notice of their existence," according to the bill summary.
It specifically prohibits online publication of "intimate visual depictions" of an adult subject "where publication is intended to cause or does cause harm to the subject, and where the depiction was published without the subject’s consent or, in the case of an authentic depiction, was created or obtained under circumstances where the adult had a reasonable expectation of privacy," as well as "a minor subject where publication is intended to abuse or harass the minor or to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person."

The law would have some teeth to it; those who fail to follow the rules would be subject to serious consequences:

"Violators are subject to mandatory restitution and criminal penalties, including prison, a fine, or both," according to the bill summary. "Threats to publish intimate visual depictions of a subject are similarly prohibited under the bill and subject to criminal penalties."

An Iconic Melania Trump Showed Up at Her Husband's Second Inauguration Dressed to Do Battle

Take It Down Act passes 409-2.

It’s now in its way to President Trump’s desk.

Anyone that has posted AI generated or real pictures of someone in an “intimate” manner without consent will need to be taken down.

Reasoning does include “mental distress”.

Get to deleting…. pic.twitter.com/NmSXTndhy5
— Southern FFA Family (@FFAFamily) April 28, 2025

Some, including Kentucky GOP Rep Thomas Massie—one of two members who voted nay—are worried that the law could infringe on people’s rights. "I’m voting NO because I feel this is a slippery slope, ripe for abuse, with unintended consequences," Massie wrote on X. Missouri Republican Rep. Eric Burlison was the other “no” vote.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, however, felt differently and lauded the bill on social media. "The passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act is a historic win in the fight to protect victims of revenge porn and deepfake abuse," he wrote. "This victory belongs first and foremost to the heroic survivors who shared their stories and the advocates who never gave up."

Whether you agree with Massie or with Cruz, score a win for Melania Trump.

PASSED: Take It Down Act
Advancing this legislation has been a key focus since I returned to my role as First Lady this past January. I am honored to have contributed to guiding it through Congress.

By safeguarding children from hurtful online behavior today, we take a vital… https://t.co/1DfwrdUhIQ
— First Lady Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) April 28, 2025