# Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act (TAKE IT DOWN Act), Pub. L. 119-12

- **Jurisdiction:** United States (federal) (US)
- **Type:** Law · **Status:** In force · **Binding:** yes
- **Issued by:** U.S. Congress
- **Proposed:** — · **Adopted:** 19 May 2025 · **Effective:** 19 May 2025
- **Obligations:** Prohibited uses, Consumer rights, Penalties
- **Sectors:** Media, Children, Consumer
- **Penalties:** Criminal: up to 2 years' prison (adult victims) or 3 years (minors). Platforms: treated as an FTC rule violation; FTC cites civil penalties up to $53,088 per violation

## Summary
Makes it a federal crime to knowingly publish non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated 'digital forgeries', and threats to do so. Since 19 May 2026 'covered platforms' must run a notice-and-removal process and take down reported images and known identical copies within 48 hours, enforced by the FTC.

## Why it matters
Any platform hosting user-generated images or video (including AI image generators) needs a working NCII takedown channel and a 48-hour removal workflow; the FTC is already sending warning letters.

## Source
[GovInfo (U.S. Government Publishing Office)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-119publ12/html/PLAW-119publ12.htm) · [secondary](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/05/ftc-begins-enforcing-take-it-down-act)
Checked against the source on 4 Oct 2026. Platform compliance date 19 May 2026. FTC launched TakeItDown.ftc.gov on 19 May 2026 and sent warning letters to 12 'nudify' services on 20 May 2026.

## Cite
Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act (TAKE IT DOWN Act), Pub. L. 119-12. U.S. Congress. Status: In force. wheresthe.ai, https://wheresthe.ai/rule/us-take-it-down-act-2025/ (verified 4 Oct 2026).

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Canonical page: https://wheresthe.ai/rule/us-take-it-down-act-2025/ · Not legal advice.