First Lady Melania Trump is set to make her first public appearance since her husband's return to office, where she will voice her support for the 'TAKE IT DOWN' Act. This legislation aims to safeguard Americans from deepfake and revenge pornography.
Trump will host a roundtable discussion on Capitol Hill to bring attention to the bill, which seeks to enhance protections for victims of nonconsensual sharing of sexual images, including those created using artificial intelligence, commonly referred to as deepfake porn.
Over the past year, individuals targeted by AI-generated, nonconsensual pornographic content have included notable figures like Taylor Swift, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and even high school girls.
The 'TAKE IT DOWN' Act, spearheaded by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, proposes criminalizing the dissemination of non-consensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated content, and mandates that social media platforms promptly remove such material upon notification from victims.
Although the bill garnered bipartisan support in the Senate during the previous congressional session, it did not advance in the House. Cruz, along with a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, including Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, is reintroducing the legislation, with the first lady now throwing her weight behind the initiative.
During her husband's first term, Melania Trump championed the 'Be Best' platform, which emphasized online safety. Last year, she expressed interest in revitalizing these efforts and exploring new issues, a commitment she is now demonstrating through her advocacy for the 'TAKE IT DOWN' Act.
