America’s dangerous, messy deepfakes crackdown is here | AI; Politics. The Take It Down Act is…
In 2026, the Take It Down Act came into full force, mandating swift removal of sexual deepfakes; however, experts fear it may enable censorship more than protect victims.
- Incident date
- May 2026
- Target
- Taylor Swift
In May 2026, the Take It Down Act's takedown provision took effect, requiring online platforms to remove nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII) within 48 hours or face fines. While major platforms supported the bill, concerns arose about potential censorship and misuse.
What happened
The Take It Down Act criminalized distributing NCII and mandated platforms to remove it within 48 hours. The FTC sent letters to tech companies, instructing them to offer an easy takedown request process and remove offending content. Despite support from major platforms, free speech advocates and online abuse opponents worried about over-moderation and potential misuse of the law for political purposes or censorship. Even AI tools generating sexualized imagery might fall outside the law's scope, raising questions about its effectiveness.