Congressman August Pfluger, alongside Representatives María Elvira Salazar, Madeleine Dean, Vern Buchanan, Debbie Dingell, and Stacey Plaskett, has reintroduced the bipartisan Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Network (TAKE IT DOWN) Act for the 119th Congress. Senators Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar have introduced a similar bill in the Senate.
The proposed legislation aims to combat 'revenge pornography' by criminalizing the publication of real and deepfake images without consent. It also mandates that websites remove such content promptly. "It is concerning to see the rise of deepfakes in the United States that destroy innocent individuals’ lives," said Rep. Pfluger. He emphasized the importance of protecting Americans from these threats.
Rep. Salazar highlighted how artificial intelligence can be misused for extortion through unauthorized deepfake porn. She stated that "the TAKE IT DOWN Act is Congress’ best shot to stop these offenders from hurting more people."
Rep. Dean noted the increasing ubiquity of AI in daily life and its potential misuse against women and girls with non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII). She expressed gratitude for working on this bipartisan effort aimed at better regulation.
Rep. Buchanan expressed his concerns about rising sexual exploitation facilitated by AI technologies while emphasizing common-sense protections through this legislation.
Rep. Dingell pointed out how deep fake pornography harms women's mental health and financial security, stating that it is used as a tool for harassment online.
According to Rep. Plaskett, addressing explicit deepfakes is crucial as they significantly impact women and girls.
Senator Cruz described generative artificial intelligence's role in spreading exploitative images online as alarming, making this act necessary to protect victims effectively.
Senator Klobuchar reiterated her commitment towards providing legal protections for victims whose intimate images are shared without consent due to advancements like deepfakes creating new abuse opportunities.