Latest news with #TakeitDownAct
USA Today
24-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
'Tush Push,' revenge porn and Pope Leo's inaugural Mass: Your week in review
'Tush Push,' revenge porn and Pope Leo's inaugural Mass: Your week in review Show Caption Hide Caption Drone video shows areas of Kentucky, St. Louis, devastated by storms Drone video shows widespread significant damage after tornadoes and severe weather tore through the Midwest and South. New law will punish 'revenge porn' Calling it a "national victory," first lady Melania Trump joined her husband, President Donald Trump, in signing legislation to outlaw the publication of computer-generated 'deepfake' images often used in revenge porn. The Take it Down Act will punish offenders and require tech platforms to remove such images within 48 hours of receiving a valid request. The bipartisan bill had sailed through the Senate and passed the House by a vote of 409–2. Said the president, who's busy trying to push his "Big, Beautiful" tax and spending bill through Congress to cement his agenda: 'I wish we could get that vote for other things.' The Pope Leo XIV era has begun "Peace be with you and your spirits." With those words, Pope Leo XIV opened his first Mass as leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics in front of tens of thousands, including dozens of world leaders, at St. Peter's Square in Rome. Leo, the first American-born pontiff, pleaded for unity, noting that "in this, our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred.' Among the gathered faithful: Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with whom the new pope met privately. The White House said Vance passed Leo a letter from President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump 'extending their warm wishes" and an invitation to the White House. Bankrupt 23andMe will live on The pioneering genetic testing firm 23andMe is getting a lifeline − and its customers may be getting some peace of mind. The company was bought for $256 million at a bankruptcy auction by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, which promised to "prioritize the privacy, security and ethical use of 23andMe's customer data" as it pursues new lifesaving drugs and discoveries in human genetics. 23andMe, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March, was the first company to allow customers to map their ancestry by submitting a DNA sample using a home swab. It will continue to operate as a personal genomics service, both companies said. What the financial future means for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's Daily Money newsletter. Jon Stewart skewers Jake Tapper, CNN Jon Stewart isn't happy with CNN. The "Daily Show" host picked the outlet apart for continuing to promote a tell-all book about Joe Biden's cognitive health after the former president announced he had been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. The book, "Original Sin," out now, was co-written by Axios' Alex Thompson and CNN's Jake Tapper. "Don't news people have to tell you what they know when they find it out?" Stewart asked in his "Daily Show" segment on May 19. "Isn't that the difference between news and a secret? 'You won't believe what we found out.' No, that's why I'm watching you." NFL keeps 'Tush Push' in play The NFL won't ban the 'Tush Push', keeping the Eagles' high-success play in the game—for now. 'Tush Push' debate is all behind us now The infamous "Tush Push" isn't going anywhere − except a yard or two at a time again next NFL season. A proposed ban on the short-yardage rugby-like scrum used to great effect by the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles came up short in a team owners' vote at the league's annual spring meeting. Twenty-two teams voted in favor of a ban and 10 teams opposed it − two votes short of what was needed to scuttle the play. The Eagles hailed the decision with two words posted on social media: "Push On." − Compiled by Robert Abitbol NFL goes to the Olympics: Players can compete in flag football's debut at LA Games Compiled and written by Robert Abitbol, USA TODAY copy chief
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
ET Explainer: What is Trump's Take it Down Act to tackle ‘revenge porn'
US president Donald Trump on Monday signed the Take it Down Act , aimed at tackling non-consensual sexually explicit images, or 'revenge porn'—whether real or AI-generated deepfakes—being published online. This comes as the internet has seen several high-profile cases of non-consensual deepfakes of popular celebrities being circulated online, while social media platforms like X and Meta have rolled back content moderation initiatives in countries like the US. ET's Annapurna Roy explains what the new law does and what it means for these platforms. What does the law say? The law, officially called the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilising Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act, makes it a federal crime in the US to knowingly publish intimate images – either authentic or computer-generated – of adults without their consent, as well as of minors. Those who publish such content of minors under the age of 18 can be fined and face up to three years in prison. Where the victims are adults, offenders face up to two years in prison. The Act also imposes penalties on those who threaten to publish such content. Live Events What did Trump say? Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories 'With the rise of AI image generation, countless women have been harassed with deepfakes and other explicit images distributed against their will. This is…wrong… Just so horribly wrong,' Trump said at the signing ceremony. The law will address this 'abusive situation', he said. First lady Melania Trump , who is said to have championed the bill, said AI and social media are addictive for the younger generation and that new technologies can be 'weaponised'. With the law, vulnerable people can be 'better protected from their image or identity being abused through non-consensual intimate imagery,' she said. What does it mean for online platforms? Platforms will have to remove such illegal content within 48 hours after a victim's request. They will also have to make efforts to delete duplicates of this content. Critics, however, have argued that measures such as the takedown provision may be misused. Further, given the short window to take content down, platforms, especially smaller ones, may not be able to verify claims adequately, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Platforms may be forced to weaken encryption to be able to monitor and flag such content better and use flawed technology to crack down on duplicates.
The Hill
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Ocasio-Cortez reintroduces bill to empower AI deepfake victims
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-N.Y.) reintroduced a bill Wednesday that would give those depicted in nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfakes the power to take civil action against those who make or distribute the imagery. Ocasio-Cortez co-led the reintroduction of the bill with Rep. Laurel Lee (R-Fla.) in the House and Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in the upper chamber. The bill is backed by another five senators and nine House members. The legislation, titled The Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act (DEFIANCE), would give survivors and victims of nonconsensual deepfake pornography the 'legal right to pursue justice,' Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement. Should the bill pass, civil actions will be able to be pursued against the individuals who create, distribute or possess with the intent to spread these deepfakes. 'Although the imagery may be fake, the harm to the victims is very real,' Durbin said in a statement Wednesday. 'Victims have lost their jobs, their reputations, and many have suffered from life-altering depression or anxiety.' It comes on the heels of President Trump's signing of the Take It Down Act on Monday, which criminalized the publication of nonconsensual deepfake imagery. The Take It Down Act further requires websites to take down the content without 48 hours and make 'reasonable efforts' to remove duplicate images. The DEFIANCE Act aims to build upon the progress of the Take it Down Act by focusing on civil resource and 'complement' one another, Lee said. 'Together, they both create both accountability and recourse,' Lee said. The bill unanimously passed the Senate last year but did not reach the House floor for a vote.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Deepfakes? Revenge porn? Trump signs bi-partisan Take It Down Act to combat fake intimate images
Take it down is the newest chant and act coming from Congress to curtail non-consensual intimate imagery, including deepfakes and revenge porn. On May 19, President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan "Take It Down" Act, which has received support from both sides of the aisle. The act mirrors some state acts and proposed bills in the effort to combat the distribution of intimate images that the parties represented in did not consent to, including a bill from Tennessee. The national bill, first introduced last year by Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, is championed by Melania Trump as part of the first lady's recently reupped "Be Best" campaign. Here's a look at what the act entails. While state legislations can put penalties on the distribution of these intimate images, victims have struggled to have images depicting them removed from websites, increasing the likelihood that the images will be continuously spread and the victims retraumatized by it. "The Take It Down Act will protect victims of digital exploitation, hold internet platforms accountable by requiring them to remove such imagery from their platform and provide justice for victims by allowing prosecutors to go after those who publish nonconsensual explicit images online," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. The Take it Down Act now criminalizes the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery, including deepfakes that are usually AI-generated images that may impose a person's face onto an image or even video to make it look like them. Here are some of the key elements of the act: Makes non-consensual intimate imagery a federal crime. Meaning if a person knowingly publishes or shares it on social media and other online platforms, they can be charged. Also clarifies language so that the consent to create an image does not mean consent to share it. Social media sites, websites or any online platform have to remove non-consensual intimate imagery upon notice from the victim within 48 hours of the verified request. Non-consensual intimate imagery, also known as NCII in the act, includes realistic, computer-generated pornographic images and videos that depict identifiable, real people. In April, former NewsChannel 5 meteorologist Bree Smith pushed the Tennessee House legislature to pass a bill the would make it illegal in the state for someone to post "intimate" deep fakes online. Smith, a deepfake victim, testified before the House that images of a "semi-nude body" with her face superimposed on it had been circulating online. She was happy to hear that the House of Representatives listened to her story and passed the bill. "I am a flood of emotions," Smith posted on Facebook. "I'm most proud of the fact that my boys were with me … that they got to see first hand that justice is possible." The Preventing Deep Fake Images Act, passed the House with no opposition April 21 and a week later passed the Senate 32-0. Here's what it includes: Makes it a felony "to disclose or threaten to disclose or solicit the disclosure of an intimate digital depiction with the intent to harass, annoy, threaten, alarm, or cause substantial harm to the finances or reputation of the depicted individual." People who are the victim of a deepfake are able to sue the person who posted images or videos without consent for financial damages. USA TODAY and Brad Schmitt with The Tennessean contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What is the Take It Down Act? Congress tackles deepfakes, revenge porn
USA Today
20-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
What is the ‘Take it Down Act?' Melania Trump made rare White House appearance to sign it
What is the 'Take it Down Act?' Melania Trump made rare White House appearance to sign it Trump signed Take it Down Act into law May 19, 2025. What to know about the 'revenge porn' law and Melania Trump, who advocated for it. Show Caption Hide Caption Melania Trump pushes for 'Take It Down Act' Melania Trump spoke out in favor of legislation that would criminalize the publication of nonconsensual deepfake sexual images. Melania Trump championed the "Take it Down Act," which criminalizes nonconsensual intimate imagery, including deepfake pornography. The act mandates tech platforms remove such imagery within 48 hours of being reported. Melania Trump has kept a relatively low profile since her husband returned to office but actively lobbied for this bill. First lady Melania Trump made a rare White House appearance alongside President Donald Trump on May 19 to sign the "Take it Down Act" into law. Melania Trump has kept a relatively low profile during her husband's first few months back in office, but has spent time lobbying for the Take it Down Act, which passed Congress with rare bipartisan support. It criminalizes non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including artificial intelligence-created imagery often known as deepfake recent pornography. 'Artificial intelligence and social media are the digital candy for the next generation, sweet, addictive, and engineered to have an impact on the connectivity development of our children,' Melania Trump said at the signing ceremony at the White House. 'But unlike sugar, these new technologies can be weaponized to shape beliefs and, sadly, affect emotions and even be deadly.' Here is what to know about the first lady and the new law she helped champion. 'They can't take a joke:' Days after Trump defends viral AI pope photo, Pope Leo is chosen What is the 'Take it down Act?' The Take it Down Act criminalizes nonconsensual, explicit images created by artificial intelligence, often known as deepfakes. The bill, introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, requires technology platforms to remove reported non-consensual sexual imagery within 48 hours, so long as the request is valid. At the bill signing at the White House Rose Garden, Melania Trump called the law a "national victory" and thanked Elliston Berry for speaking up and advocating for survivors. Berry was 14 when she was the victim of a nude deepfake that wasn't removed from Snapchat until Cruz's Senate office stepped in. Berry has said she went to the authorities about the image, but they told her it was out of their control. (Snapchat said in an April 8 statement it supports the bill.) "Elliston Berry stood boldly for change — despite the risks posed to her and her family by speaking out and making her voice heard. Elliston, your voice — and the voices of so many like you — made this bill a national priority,' Melania Trump said. What else has Melania Trump done as first lady? Outside of advocating for the Take it Down Act, she has only made a handful of public appearances since her husband's inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025. She spoke at the International Women of Courage Awards, attended Pope Francis' funeral (the same day as her 55th birthday), helped host the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, and hosted a celebration of military mothers and a stamp unveiling honoring former first lady Barbara Bush. When did Donald Trump marry Melania? Donald Trump and model Melania Knauss got married in 2005. They met in 1998, two years after she moved to New York. Does Melania Trump have a college degree? No. According to the American Presidency Project, Melania Trump did not complete a degree but attended the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia for one year. Is Melania Trump an immigrant? Yes, she was born in Slovenia and moved to the U.S. in 1996. Slovenia is a country in Eastern Europe between Croatia and Austria. Melania Trump was born as Melanija Knavs but changed her name to Melania Knauss and later Melania Trump. She is the only first lady to become a naturalized citizen and the second first lady born outside the United States. (The first was Louisa Catherine Adams, married to John Quincy Adams, who was president from 1825-1829.) See photos of Melania Trump before she became first lady, when she met Trump as a young model Contributing: Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, Maria Francis, Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @
