Donald Trump has announced that the Take it Down act was being signed into law to allow victims of deepfake porn to take legal action.
With the increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence, image generators creeps all over the world have used it to create explicit images of real people and celebrities.
One notable example from last year was fake sexualised images of Taylor Swift making the rounds online, which led to several of her fans calling for something to be done about it.
Some have then taken these AI images and shared them on social media and porn websites, causing distress for any real people represented in them.
Now, President Donald Trump has signed in a new act that will offer those affected the ability to take matters into their own hands.
What is the Take It Down Act?
Donald Trump reflected on the importance of the bill on Monday (Samuel Corum/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The Take it Down Act has been introduced to directly combat this growing trend.
Congress’ explanation of the bill reads: “This bill generally prohibits the nonconsensual online publication of intimate visual depictions of individuals, both authentic and computer-generated, and requires certain online platforms to promptly remove such depictions upon receiving notice of their existence.”
How does it work?
While much of the focus has been on AI image generation, the law applies at a federal level to real images or videos where the individual has not given their consent for it to be uploaded, often referred to as ‘revenge porn’.
Under this new law, those who make or distribute such content are ‘subject to mandatory restitution and criminal penalties, including prison, a fine, or both’.
“Threats to publish intimate visual depictions of a subject are similarly prohibited under the bill and subject to criminal penalties.” the bill continues.
The law will also mean that social media platforms will have to ‘remove such content within 48 hours of notice from victims’ or face the consequences.
Websites will also have approximately a year to implement and establish a process by which users can report the non-consensual content.
What Trump has said?
Donald Trump was praised on social media for signing the bill into federal law(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Speaking outside at the White House, Trump said: “Today it is my honor to officially sign the Take it Down act into law, it is a big thing, it is very important, it is horrible what takes place.
“This will be the first ever federal law to combat the distribution of explicit imagery posted without subjects consent, take horrible pictures and I guess sometimes even make up the pictures then they post it without consent.
“This includes for forgeries generated by artificial intelligence, known as deep fakes, we have all heard of them.”
Trump continued to explain the importance of this bill and how it will help protect women, adding: “With the rise of AI image generation countless women have been harassed with deep fakes and other explicit images distributed against their will.
“This is wrong, so horribly wrong and it is a very abusive situation, in some cases people have never seen [such things] before and today we are making it totally illegal.”
What have people said about the bill?
The Take it Down bill passed almost unanimously in the US House of Representatives and the Senate.
First Lady Melania Trump, who’d previously urged Congress to pass the bill back in March, said that the new law was a ‘national victory that will help parents and families protect children from online exploitation’ (via the BBC).
Meanwhile, Senator Ted Cruz described it as a ‘ historic win for victims of revenge porn and deepfake image abuse’, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) said this ‘groundbreaking’ law ‘closes a dangerous gap by targeting the distribution of both real and digitally altered exploitative content involving children’.
On social media, people were also quick to praise it, with one user commenting: “Aye this is actually a good thing. First good thing he’s done all year.”
Another said that it was ‘something good out of this administration’, while a third said: “He’s completely right to do this. A positive move.”
Topics: Donald Trump, News, US News, Artificial Intelligence
Melania Trump makes rare appearance as she urges lawmakers to sign bill making ‘revenge-porn’ a federal crime
The first lady is pushing to make ‘revenge porn’ and deepfake sex images a federal crime
Melania Trump has made a rare appearance to urge lawmakers to crack down on so-called ‘revenge porn’ by making it a federal crime.
First Lady Melania Trump appeared before Capitol Hill on Monday (March 3) to push for a bipartisan bill that would tackle non-consensual pornography being shared online as well as AI-generated intimate images.
The 54-year-old former model said artificial intelligence is being used nefariously to create ‘deepfake’ porn images of victims without their consent and create a ‘toxic’ space online for young people to navigate.
Melania Trump’s ‘revenge porn’ bill plea
Credit: ABC News/YouTube
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The proposed Take It Down bill would make it a crime to post and create such images and would apply pressure to technology companies to remove the content within 48 hours, the BBC reports.
In her first public appearance in the new Trump administration, the first lady told the panel: “It’s heartbreaking to witness some teens, especially girls, grappling with the overwhelming challenges posed by malicious online content, like deepfakes.”
The bill had already passed the Senate with bipartisan support, being brought by Republican Ted Cruz (Texas) and supported by Democrat Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota).
However, it still needs to pass through the House of Representatives before being written into law.
Melania continued: “In an era where digital interaction are integral to daily life, it is imperative that we safeguard children from mean-spirited and hurtful online behaviour.”
Trump with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) at the roundtable event (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
If passed, websites and social media platforms that feature user-generated content will have to implement a ‘notice and takedown process’, the NY Post reports, of two days once being flagged by a victim.
Meanwhile, perpetrators who share explicit images without consent, whether authentic or with AI, could face up to three years behind bars if the material involves a minor or two years if the victim is over 18.
“By advocating this bill, Congress can take an important step towards ensuring accountability and fostering responsibly online behavior,” Melania said.
“The Take It Down Act represents our first step towards justice, healing and unity.”
The mom-of-one also took aim at Democrats for what she described as failing to lend their public support towards the Act.
“I was heartened to learn that Senator Cruz and Senator Klobuchar united to prioritize this fundamental matter,” she continued. “I must admit, however, I expected to see more Democrat[ic] leaders with us here today to address this serious issue.
“Surely as adults, we can prioritize American children ahead of partisan politics.”
The panel also heard from survivors, Francesca Mani and Elliston Berry (left to right) (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
Senator Cruz, who is a father to two daughters, also said at the roundtable: “If you’re a victim of revenge porn or AI-generated explicit imagery, your life changes forever.
“Disturbingly, many of these victims are teenagers at American high schools.”
Ro Khanna, Democrat (California), added: “I represent Silicon Valley. America should lead in making sure that technology protects kids and protects people. And I think this bill, as you’ve crafted it, Senator Cruz, balances the free-speech concerns with the protections.”
The panel also heard testimonies from victims of deepfake pornography, which spans from school children to adults.
Last year, fans rallied around pop star, Taylor Swift, who was one of many famous women to become a victim of AI fake nudes.
According to Politico, House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie has vowed the panel will schedule a hearing on the bill in the next few weeks.
The campaign comes as the Slovenian native usually avoids the spotlight, but occasionally speaks out on issues close to her heart.
During her husband’s last term, she spoke to members of Congress about the country’s foster-care system and other online schemes to protect youngsters, such as the ‘Be Best’ initiative which seeks to combat cyberbullying.
Topics: Melania Trump, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, US News, Donald Trump, Politics, Republicans
Trump makes major U-turn on 145% China tariffs with shocking new proposal
Could the tariff war be easing?
Donald Trump has weighed in on what ‘seems right’ to update China’s tariffs to after previously raising them to 145 percent.
Not long after being sworn in for a second term at the White House, Trump branded April 2 ‘Liberation Day’ for America.
The POTUS unveiled a series of tariffs against countries across the globe with China ending up impacted most severely.
Prior to the big announcement, 20 percent tariffs had already been applied on goods from China, which was then hiked by 34 percent.
Unsurprisingly, China didn’t react so well to the news, not only hitting back with tariffs of its own, but also filing a lawsuit at the World Trade Organization, which then led to Trump to raise the tariffs against the country to 104 percent.
On 9 April, he then increased tariffs to 145 percent for most Chinese goods – with certain products facing a staggering 245 percent tax.
But it would appear Trump has now had a change of tune.
Mark Carney corrects Donald Trump in Oval Office meeting
Credit: The White House
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Taking to Truth Social earlier today (May 9), Trump wrote: “80 percent Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B.”
In another post, he added: “CHINA SHOULD OPEN UP ITS MARKET TO USA — WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM!!! CLOSED MARKETS DON’T WORK ANYMORE!!!”
Whether Trump will actually commit to the suggestion, who knows, but top US officials Treasury chief Scott Bessent and US trade representative Jamieson Greer are reported as being set to meet with a high-level Chinese delegation this weekend.
Trump’s post also follows comments he made at the swearing in ceremony of Paul Atkins as the Securities and Exchange Commission chair on Tuesday.
Trump said: “We’re doing fine with China. We’re going to live together very happily and ideally work together.”
He added the final tariff rate against the country would be brought down ‘substantially’ although didn’t clarify by how much.
The POTUS simply said: “It won’t be that high, not going to be that high.”
It follows the White House releasing a statement explaining the tariffs being imposed on China, stating the rate was set to ‘ensure US trade policy serves the nation’s long-term interests’.
The statement continued: “On Day One, President Trump initiated his America First Trade Policy to make America’s economy great again. On Liberation Day, President Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all countries and individualized reciprocal higher tariffs on nations with which the U.S. has the largest trade deficits in order to level the playing field and protect America’s national security.
“More than 75 countries have already reached out to discuss new trade deals. As a result, the individualized higher tariffs are currently paused amid these discussions, except for China, which retaliated.”
People point out major issue as Trump reportedly preparing to accept ‘$400,000,000 palace in the sky’ as gift
The POTUS is set to receive one of the most valuable gifts ever
People are pointing out there could be a major issue if the president is to accept a ‘palace in the sky’ as a gift.
The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to accept an insanely pricey, first-of-its-kind gift given to the US from a foreign government.
The luxurious Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet, that comes in at $400 million with the nickname of a ‘flying palace’, is apparently due to be handed over to the POTUS from the royal family of Qatar.
According to ABC News, Donald Trump will be able to use the plane as its new Air Force One jet until he leaves office, where it is tipped to transfer ownership into the Trump Presidential Library Foundation.
The 13-year-old aircraft will apparently be modified to meet US military criteria to transport the president and transferred to the presidential library before January 1, 2029.
Any costs associated with the transfer will also allegedly be covered by the US Air Force.
It is anticipated the grand gift will be unveiled next week when the president visits Qatar, according to sources who have been briefed in on the plans.
Trump has toured the plane before when it was parked at the West Palm Beach International Airport, Florida, in February.
However, the present is bound to raise questions over the ethics of the sitting president accepting such a valuable item from a foreign power, particularly with concerns over possible bribery.
Dozens on Reddit say their employment contracts prohibit them from accepting gifts of major value, with some saying they can’t take anything worth more than $50 worth a year.
Another Redditor said they work ‘federal adjacent’ and have a limit of $25 a year – meaning one time they had to refuse a $28 t-shirt from a supplier.
Others slammed the lavish gift as ‘bribery on the highest scale’.
“Nothing says American exceptionalism like not being able to build our own AF-1. Nothing says MAGA failure like actually accepting this as a gift,” they added.
Anticipating such backlash, sources told the news outlet that lawyers for the White House counsel’s office and the Department of Justice have already been drafted in.
Under the advice, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is reportedly to conclude that it is legal to accept the mega-jet as a gift and later hand it over to the Trump library.
It will also state that doing so does not violate any bribery laws or the Constitution’s prohibition of any US government official accepting gifts ‘from any King, Prince or foreign state’.
Sources added Attorney General Pam Bondi and Trump’s own top White House lawyer David Warrington concluded it would be legally permission to receive it and transfer it to Trump’s presidential library before the end of his term.
Both the White House and the DOJ determine that, since the gift is not conditioned on any official act, it bypasses such clauses about bribery – and cannot breach the rule about foreign gifts because the plane is being given to the US Air Fore rather than any specific individual.
UNILAD has contacted the White House for comment.
Trump signs executive order that will have a major impact on how US elections run
The new legislation has been blasted as ‘unlawful’ by a Democratic secretary of state
US President Donald Trump has signed a new sweeping executive order that could change the face of future US elections.
According to the Federal Register, since 78-year-old Trump’s inauguration on January 20, the Republican has signed almost 100 Executive Orders (E.O.).
These include renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, an order eradicating the Department of Education, and one that could have a massive impact on medical patients.
His latest document however has divided critics, with some experts claiming the move could disenfranchise millions of Americans who hope to vote in the next presidential election.
On Tuesday, Trump signed a new E.O., entitled: ‘Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections’.
“Despite pioneering self-government, the United States now fails to enforce basic and necessary election protections employed by modern, developed nations, as well as those still developing,” the legislation reads.
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“India and Brazil, for example, are tying voter identification to a biometric database, while the United States largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship.”
The Trump Administration has stated that political votes must remain ‘free, fair, and honest’ and ‘unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion’, remarking it is the ‘right’ of American citizens to have their votes ‘properly counted and tabulated, without illegal dilution’.
This newly-signed sweeping executive order therefore requires all eligible voters to show ‘documentary proof of US citizenship’ when registering to vote in federal elections.
Acceptable forms of ID include: US Passports, identification documents compliant with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005s, official military identification cards, and other valid Federal or State government-issued photo identification.
If the E.O. comes into play and you’re a US Citizen who doesn’t have one of these forms of ID, you will not be able to vote in future Elections.
The new order also demands individual states work with federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department, to share voter lists and prosecute crimes via a common registration form.
It’s understood this could help identify noncitizens on their rolls.
The Associated Press writes that this new legislation threatens to pull federal funding from states where election officials don’t comply, thus changing the face of how elections take place.
Another outline featured in the order is that all mail voting ballots must ‘cast and received’ by election day.
Currently, 18 states and Puerto Rico allow ballots to be received after election day as long as they were mailed on or before the day of the vote, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
UCLA law professor Rick Hasen said on his blog that if the ‘executive power grab’ is allowed to stand, the order would radically shift power to the federal government.
Amid the E.O. signing at the White House, Trump told reporters: “Election fraud. You’ve heard the term. We’re going to end it, hopefully. At least this will go a long way toward ending it.”
Previous efforts to pass a voter ID law in Congress have failed, meaning the Trump Administration’s latest move is likely to be challenged in court.
Speaking out about the new E.O., Wendy Weiser, from the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University told the Washington Post: “The president cannot override a statute passed by Congress that says what is required to register to vote on the federal voter registration form.”
Meanwhile, Jena Griswold, Colorado’s Democratic secretary of state, told AP that the order was ‘unlawful’, making it ‘harder for voters to fight back at the ballot box’.