The TAKE IT DOWN Act, explained for creators

the law finally caught up

A federal law now makes posting intimate images of someone without their consent — including AI deepfakes — a crime, and forces platforms to take them down fast. Here’s what it covers, what it doesn’t, and how to actually use it.

What the law is

The TAKE IT DOWN Act became law on May 19, 2025 (Public Law 119-12), passing the Senate unanimously and the House 409–2. It does two things: it makes knowingly publishing non-consensual intimate images — real or AI-generated — a federal crime, and it requires covered platforms to remove reported images within 48 hours of a valid request. The platform requirement is enforced by the FTC and has been in effect since May 2026.

For an industry that spent years being told "nothing can be done," this is a real tool.

What it covers — and the catch for creators

Covered: private intimate images shared without your consent (an ex, a hacker, a leak of personal content), and deepfakes — AI-generated intimate imagery depicting you that you never made.

The catch: content you voluntarily published commercially — your paywalled videos and photos — generally falls outside the law’s definition of non-consensual imagery. When someone reposts your paid content, that’s a copyright problem, and the DMCA is still your weapon. Use our notice writer for that.

Rule of thumb: deepfakes and truly private content → TAKE IT DOWN. Stolen paid content → DMCA. Sometimes both apply — file both.

How to use it

1.Document first: screenshot the post, save the URL, note the date. Do this before reporting — content can vanish with the evidence.

2.Find the platform’s NCII (non-consensual intimate imagery) reporting channel — covered platforms are required to have one.

3.Report. The platform has 48 hours from a valid request to remove it, including identical copies.

4.Hash your images with StopNCII (free) so participating platforms block re-uploads automatically.

5.If a covered platform ignores a valid request, file an FTC complaint — that’s the enforcement lever.

When to get a lawyer

If the poster is identifiable and persistent, if it’s tied to stalking or extortion, or if the same content keeps resurfacing across sites — a lawyer who specializes in image abuse can pursue the person, not just the posts. See our Resources page for where to start.

This guide is general education, not legal advice — laws change and details matter. Confirm current rules with official sources or a lawyer before acting.

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Doxxed? Do this first. → StopNCII and other safety resources →

prof's note

Screenshot first, report second. Evidence disappears faster than you think.