12.13.2024

ICYMI: Sen. Cruz, Deepfake Victim Elliston Berry Urge the House to Pass Bipartisan Legislation to Criminalize AI-Generated Explicit Images

The TAKE IT DOWN Act empowers victims by forcing social media and other websites to remove such images

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– In case you missed it, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Elliston Berry, a 15-year-old high school student from Aledo, Texas, and a victim of deepfake pornography, this week urged the U.S. House to pass the bipartisan, bicameral TAKE IT DOWN Act, which Sen. Cruz introduced with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

The TAKE IT DOWN Act, which passed the Senate unanimously last week, will criminalize the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated images (commonly referred to as “deepfakes”). Notably, the legislation will also require social media and other websites to remove such images within 48 hours of receiving notice from the victim.

Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) and Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) have introduced companion legislation in the House, where the bill currently awaits consideration.

The TAKE IT DOWN Act has received widespread support from nearly 100 organizations, including victim advocacy groups, law enforcement, and tech industry leaders.

Earlier this week, Sens. Cruz and Klobuchar held a press conference with victim advocates to urge the House to pass the TAKE IT DOWN Act before the end of this year. During the press conference, Ms. Berry and other victim advocates spoke about the importance of enacting the TAKE IT DOWN Act to ensure other women and girls don’t face the same horrific trauma.

Watch Sen. Cruz and Ms. Berry’s interviews below.