Broad Coalition Urges Swift Passage of Sen. Cruz’s TAKE IT DOWN Act

Tech companies, law enforcement, business groups, and victim advocacy orgs call on Congress to swiftly pass bipartisan bill to protect, empower victims of deepfake revenge porn

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz's (R-Texas) bipartisan TAKE IT DOWN Act has received widespread support from tech industry leaders, law enforcement, victim advocacy groups, and over 60 organizations. The legislation, which passed unanimously out of the Senate Commerce Committee this week, aims to criminalize the publication of non-consensual, sexually exploitative images, including AI-generated deepfakes, and requires platforms to implement notice and takedown processes. Sen. Cruz's bill is the only AI legislation in Congress that mandates social media sites remove non-consensual images within 48 hours of notice.

Notably, this bill has garnered broad support across the tech industry. Leaders from both large and small social media platforms, dating apps, and tech organizations, including Microsoft, Meta, TikTok, Bumble, Match Group, IBM, TechNet, and Internet Works, are rallying behind the bipartisan legislation.

In addition, RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization, spearheaded a letter with 23 additional groups calling for the swift passage of this legislation. The National Fraternal Order of Police has also sent a letter to Senate leadership endorsing the legislation. In addition, the legislation has received support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The legislation has also been endorsed byeditorial boards ofthe Seattle Times,Houston Chronicle, and Dallas Morning News.

In a letter to Senate leadership RAINN and 24 organizations wrote,

"...While popular celebrities like Taylor Swift have been victimized, there are also countless stories of adult victims as well as teenage girls at high schools in your community. While several states have taken action to address this issue, only federal legislation can reign in this growing problem...

"Currently, no federal law requires online platforms to remove non-consensual intimate images upon request. Victims have seen time and time again that social media sites are unwilling to prioritize the takedown of such images. The bill corrects this problem and holds Big Tech accountable to prevent the further sharing of such imagery...

"We the undersigned organizations fully support the TAKE IT DOWN Act and call on the Senate Commerce Committee to pass this landmark, bipartisan, and lifesaving legislation now. We urge Senate leadership to swiftly move this legislation to the floor after it passes the Committee."

In an additional letter, the National Fraternal Order of Police wrote:

"... Our agencies need clarified and expanded authorities in order to combat the ever-evolving threat posed by "deepfake" technology which can generate and distribute nude and sexually exploitative images."

"We have reached a turning point in this regard-where we once had to recognize the dangers of images being circulated without consent online alone, our attention must additionally turn to the distribution of manipulated or entirely faked images generated by artificial intelligence (AI).

"Unfortunately, AI has increasingly made it difficult to discern between a real or a manufactured image, adding to the trauma experienced by victims.

"... By taking thesesubstantial actions to hold both the individual and medium accountable, the safety and dignity of children and adults can be better safeguarded."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce wrote in a letter:

"… Given the urgent need and lack of current authority to combat non-consensual deepfake images, the Chamber supports S.4569, the "TAKE IT DOWN Act." We look forward to working with Senators Cruz and Klobuchar as well as the Committee to refine this legislation as the legislative process continues."

Antigone Davis, Global Head of Safety for Meta, stated:

"Meta supports Sen. Cruz and Sen. Klobuchar's TAKE IT DOWN Act. Having an intimate image shared without consent can be devastating, and we're proud of Meta's industry-leading efforts to help prevent it. Those include supporting our partners to develop StopNCII.org and Take It Down, both of which give people back control of their images and help stop them spreading online. This bill is an important step forward in fighting this abuse and supporting those affected across the internet."

Fred Humphries, Corporate Vice President, U.S. Government Affairs for Microsoft, stated:

"Earlier today, we released a set of policy recommendations aimed at stopping abusive AI-generated content. We are now proud to endorse the TAKE IT DOWN Act. We strongly support federal legislation that will empower victims of non-consensual intimate imagery to remove harmful content and punish the perpetrators committing these heinous acts. We thank Senators Klobuchar and Cruz, look forward to this markup and hope for bipartisan consideration in the U.S. Senate."

TikTok writes in a letter of support:

"We applaud your efforts to address the evolving challenges posed by advancements in technology, particularly the rise of artificial intelligence, which can be misused to create harmful and illegal content. With the advent of sophisticated digital tools based on AI technologies, there is a critical need to create a uniform federal standard to ensure that victims have reasonable mechanisms to remove realistic fake exploitative content."

"By expanding the scope of existing provisions, the TAKE IT DOWN Act ensures that victims of NCII abuse can work with social media and video-sharing platforms to reduce its spread…"

"…We believe that this legislation is a vital step forward in protecting victims from digital harm and ensuring that our laws keep pace with technological advancements. We commend you for your leadership on this critical issue and stand ready to work with you on the passage of this important bill."

In a statement of support, Bumble writes:

"For nearly a decade, Bumble has been dedicated to creating a world where women feel safe and respected online and we have been systematically focused on championing measures that curb online abuse and harm. We are already seeing deepfake material have a profound negative impact on its victims, and it's imperative laws keep pace with rapid technology development.The Take It Down Act is an important initiative to protect victims of deepfake revenge porn, and we are honored to support this inspiring legislation. We thank the Senators for their bipartisan efforts in introducing this bill and joining this crucial conversation to ensure digital spaces are safer and kinder for women in the US."

Christina Montgomery, Chief Privacy & Trust Officer for IBM, stated:

"It is profoundly concerning when bad actors misuse AI to create deepfakes of other individuals without their consent, and it is particularly abhorrent when it's done to create nonconsensual intimate images and pornography. IBM applauds Senators Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar for introducing legislation that would create strong criminal and civil liability for people who distribute nonconsensual intimate audiovisual content, including AI-generated content, as well as for people who threaten to do so. Solving the problems posed by deepfakes will require thoughtful, whole-of-society approaches leveraging both changes in law and technology."

Carl Holshouser, Executive Vice President for TechNet, stated:

"TechNet members are committed to protecting the safety and security of everyone who uses their products. Identifying and removing harmful or explicit non-consensual content has long been a top priority for the industry, and it's a goal we share with lawmakers. We applaud Senators Klobuchar and Cruz for collaborating on a bipartisan solution to address this important issue and look forward to working with them to ensure online communities remain safe and that bad actors are held accountable."

Peter Chandler, Executive Director for the Internet Works coalition, said in a letter:

"This important legislation would protect victims of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) - including images generated using artificial intelligence - published on the internet by criminalizing the publication of this material and requiring websites to have mechanisms in place to remove or disable these images. Internet Works strongly supports the intended goal of the TAKE IT DOWN Act, which would empower victims to remove NCII materials from the internet and end the cycle of victimization by those who publish this heinous content, and we support passage of the bill."

"Internet Works and our member companies have also appreciated the opportunity to be a constructive partner with you and the committee staff to ensure the bill's intent is workable in practice without unduly infringing on the privacy of other law-abiding, upstanding users. We believe the substitute amendment helps improve the ability of small and medium-sized companies to comply with the intent of the bill and enable the greatest impact for victims."

"We look forward to continuing to work with you and members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to improve the bill and be a thoughtful voice in preserving the internet as a place of limitless possibility for all Americans."

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https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2024/8/broad-coalition-urges-swift-passage-of-sen-cruz-s-take-it-down-act