Victim Advocates Join Sens. Cruz and Klobuchar to Urge House to Pass the TAKE IT DOWN Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas), U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) and victim advocates today held a press conference to urge the House to pass the TAKE IT DOWN Act, bipartisan legislation to criminalize the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated images (commonly referred to as “deepfakes”). The bill, which passed the Senate unanimously last week, would require social media and other websites to remove such images within 48 hours of receiving notice from the victim.

Reps. Salazar 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 90 organizations, including victim advocacy groups, law enforcement, and tech industry leaders.

During the press conference, victim advocates spoke about how other women and teenage girls will not face the same horrific trauma if the TAKE IT DOWN Act is enacted.

Click HERE to watch the full press conference

Key excerpts of the press conference can be found below.

Sen. Cruz:

“[The TAKE IT DOWN Act] has passed the Senate unanimously. 100 to nothing. Amy and I worked on both sides of the aisle. Every single Democrat in the Senate supported it. Every single Republican in the Senate supported it.”

“All of us have spoken to House leadership urging the House to take it up and pass it before the end of the year.”

“If this bill gets a vote in the House it will pass. The only question is, will it get a vote or not? We’re here today on behalf of the victims, on behalf of women, on behalf of teenage girls across this country to say: bring this up for a vote. Pass it and put it on the President’s desk. We can get it done and we can get it done before the end of the year.”

Sen. Klobuchar:

“Every one of our Senate colleagues supported this bill, from Bernie Sanders to Rick Scott. That’s a broad spectrum, and that’s because this is truly an issue for our kids and for the privacy of people throughout this country.”

“This work is about building a future, about taking on the challenges of the new environment we live in, and not just pretending it’s not happening anymore. Fewer Americans will have their lives turned upside down if we can get this done, fewer children will have their innocence snatched away from them, and more victims can seek justice that they deserve. Let’s get it done in the House.”

Rep. Salazar:

“I commit to work very hard in the House . . . and I am sure that with the help of God that we’re going to be able to put this either in suspension or make it a vote and the TAKE IT DOWN Act will be the law of the land before the end of the year. Why? Because it has nothing to do with political parties. It has to do with commonsense.”

“We’re going to do what’s right for our constituents . . . and nothing can be more right than this. So count on me . . . we’re going to put all the effort, energy and interest into making this law.”

Ms. Elliston Berry, high school student and advocate for fellow victims of deepfake pornography:

“It is so healing and so validating to know that my story is relevant, and there are so many cases all around the world, millions of not only girls, but boys, teenagers, women, children are being harassed and they are being targeted and victimized. And there’s nothing out there that can help them and that can save them. I just remember feeling that hopelessness and just feeling terrified of what the future had to hold. But thanks to the TAKE IT DOWN Act, we are able to give victims a voice. We are able to protect not only future generations, but the survivors of this AI crime.”

“I urge the House to pass this bill immediately to protect so many people, because this is a serious matter.”

Ms. Francesca Mani, high school student and advocate for ethical technology and youth empowerment:

“Today, I am calling on every Congressman and Congresswoman to stand with me, with Elliston, and with all the girls who are not here today but have been deeply affected. Because we matter. It’s time for Congress to see us, hear us, and act for us.”

“We need swift and decisive action. We need this bill to pass to protect us. Without it, we remain vulnerable. This is not a political issue—it’s a human issue, and I hope we can all agree that protecting our children is something worth uniting for.”

S.C. State Rep. Brandon Guffey, the father of a victim of online sexual extortion and an advocate for legislation to protect future victims:

“If my son would have had something like the TAKE IT DOWN Act in place, then perhaps that decision would have been different. I can’t do anything to bring my son back. But what I can do is try to fight to keep another teen from feeling that hurt and feeling that shame.”

“I want to urge the House to pass this bipartisan bill. That is the most important thing. This bill is completely bipartisan. Who doesn’t want to protect our kids? We see what’s before us, we have to stand up and fight.”

Ms. Breeze Liu, a victim of deepfake pornography and the founder of software to allow victims to identify and remove fake and abusive content:

“This is why the Take It Down Act matters. It creates accountability where there was none before. It ensures that victims can have harmful content removed swiftly, lifting the unbearable burden survivors have long carried alone.”

“The same technology that created this problem can also power its solution. The algorithms used to harm us can be redirected to protect us. This legislation is part of that moonshot. So let’s pass this Bill. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s necessary. Stop blaming the victims, and stop justifying the abuse.”

“While there is darkness, we shall let there be light, and even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise. So let us heal the divide and build a brighter future for the next generation, we owe it to our children, a future that is worth living in, not just simply surviving. Do not let my yesterday become their tomorrow.”

Ms. Samantha McCoy, a victim of revenge pornography, an attorney, and an advocate for sexual assault survivors:

“Had this legislation been in place at the time of my case, I would not have experienced the constant and repeated pain, as the video of the attack would have been promptly removed, significantly reducing the chance of wider circulation on other platforms. It would have further empowered me to feel as though I had options to protect myself and ensured that the perpetrator would be held accountable for the irreparable harm he caused.”

“That is why I am calling on the House leadership to pass the TAKE IT DOWN Act immediately.”

“We must finally prioritize protecting survivors of image-based sexual abuse by passing this legislation to shield those who are targeted and hold those who facilitate this abhorrent crime accountable. Survivors are counting on you. Our children are counting on you. And future generations are counting on you.”

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