• President Trump signs the "Take It Down Act" to combat revenge porn.
• The law mandates tech companies to remove explicit content within 48 hours upon request.
• First Lady Melania Trump played a key role in advocating for the bill.
• The bill has garnered bipartisan support but faces criticism from digital rights groups.
• It marks a significant federal intervention in regulating online content.

President Donald Trump signed the "Take It Down Act" into law, criminalizing the distribution of non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes. This bipartisan measure mandates that social media companies and websites remove such content within 48 hours of receiving a victim's request. Those knowingly distributing explicit images without consent face potential prison time of up to three years, according to CBS News and BBC.

The legislation received overwhelming bipartisan support, passing the Senate unanimously in February and the House in April with a 409-2 vote. First Lady Melania Trump was instrumental in pushing the bill through Congress, even making a rare public appearance to lobby for its passage. She described the experiences of victims, particularly young girls, as "heartbreaking," emphasizing the need for such legal protections, according to India Times and Newsweek.

During the bill signing ceremony at the White House, Trump remarked, "We will not tolerate online sexual exploitation," highlighting the necessity of addressing privacy violations in the digital age. Despite the positive reception from many proponents, the bill has drawn criticism from digital rights activists who argue that its broad language may lead to censorship of legitimate content, including LGBTQ material and legal pornography, as stated by Los Angeles Times and Le Monde.

The "Take It Down Act" also aims to simplify the existing patchwork of state laws against revenge porn by introducing uniform standards. While many states have already instituted regulations against similar offenses, previous laws did not explicitly cover AI-manipulated content, leaving gaps in protection for victims of deepfakes. This new legislation signifies a legislative push to protect individuals against the rising tide of online exploitation, according to India Times and CBS News.