This article was written by members of the Youth Advisory Board at Plan International USA. To get in touch with the YAB, contact yla@planusa.org.
Thanks to the bravery of survivors and your help, the Take it Down Act was signed into law on May 19, 2025. But we are still fighting.
Over the years, dozens of survivors of online violence have testified before Congress, sharing personal and harrowing experiences they have lived through, like deep-fakes and revenge porn. Their continued courage to speak up played an immense role in the recent landmark passing of the Take it Down Act, signed into law on May 19, 2025. Take it Down combats the publication and sharing of non-consensual intimate images, both by criminalizing the distribution of such images and requiring platforms to remove the content within 48 hours of being reported.
We wanted to take a moment to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all survivors of such online abuse for their role in this success. Whether through public testimony or personal resilience, your strength has been instrumental in bringing this legislation to fruition. You have paved the way for a safer world online for countless women, girls and young people. Thank you.
What the Take It Down Act does for survivors
With your help, this federal law now criminalizes sharing or threatening to share non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated content of real people. As we wrote in our last blog post, it requires platforms to remove reported NCII within 48 hours and includes protections for medical/law enforcement use while targeting only images of real individuals.
What WE can do to make sure this will further protect us
1. Long-term support for victims of NCII abuse — Support should be directed toward mental health resources that are accessible through multilingual services.
2. More transparency from tech companies — We need stronger regulations requiring social media companies to publish clear reports about the amount of NCII content and their removal times.
3. Stronger enforcement — Strengthen enforcement through the Federal Communications Commission and Department of Justice. The act’s effectiveness depends on proper enforcement. The FCC and DOJ must have designated resources and staff to oversee platform compliance, especially with the 48-hour removal rule.
4. Culture change — Combating NCII also means shifting cultural understanding. We need investment in public awareness to challenge the stigma around victimhood in order to educate youth about digital boundaries and reporting mechanisms.
5. Careful oversight of “good-faith” protections — Increased measures and monitoring to ensure content made in “good faith” is not censored on platforms, and guarantee more accurate reporting of NCII.
Why we’re also pushing for the Kids Online Safety Act
While the Take it Down Act will now champion child online safety, there is still more to do, and you can help us. The Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act is a bipartisan bill that ensures internet platforms undertake a “duty of care” to protect minors from the negative privacy and mental health impacts by preventing unwanted strangers viewing their personal data online.
With harassment and abuse rife online, KOSA will further reaffirm the Take it Down Act’s commitment to children’s online safety and protection from harmful content, such as online bullying and eating disorders. Though this bill had gained significant progress previously, we still need your help advocating to pass this bill and fully combat technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
All in all, in moments of celebration for the passage of Take it Down, we at Plan International hold gratitude for survivors of TFGBV. This legislation is the result of your tenacious efforts and bravery speaking up about your experiences and the need for change. As we continue to advocate for a safer, more inclusive online world, we will continue to honor your strength and commitment. And we won’t stop until we are all equal.
