# What the TAKE IT DOWN Act Actually Does

This bill creates new federal crimes around sharing intimate images without permission and requires major social media platforms to remove such content quickly. Specifically, it makes it illegal to publish nude or sexually explicit photos or videos of someone on the internet without their consent, whether those images are real or artificially created deepfakes. The law applies to both adults and minors, though the penalties are harsher for content involving children.

For adults, sharing intimate images without permission becomes a federal crime punishable by up to two years in prison and fines. For minors, the penalty increases to up to three years in prison. The law also makes it illegal to threaten to share such images for purposes of blackmail, intimidation, or harassment. Additionally, anyone convicted must forfeit any money or property they gained from the crime, and courts can order them to pay restitution to victims. This applies to real photos as well as deepfakes—AI-generated or digitally altered images that realistically depict someone in intimate situations.

The bill also requires major social media platforms, websites, and apps that host user-generated content to establish a process where people can report intimate images posted without their consent. Once someone files a valid report, the platform must remove the image and any identical copies within 48 hours. Platforms must also display clear information about how to report such content. The Federal Trade Commission can enforce these requirements and penalize platforms that fail to comply. Importantly, platforms are protected from lawsuits if they remove content in good faith, even if it turns out the image was actually consensual—the law encourages quick removal rather than lengthy investigations.