This article was written by members of the Youth Advisory Board at Plan International USA. To get in touch with the YAB, contact [email protected].
The Economist reports that 85% of women online have witnessed online violence such as video- and image-based abuse, defamation, cyberharassment, doxing and more. Plan’s research shows this abuse is pushing women and girls out of online life, with 1 in 5 disengaging for their own well-being. The UK, European Union and some U.S. states have passed laws to address these issues, but so far, no laws protect all girls and women across the United States from online harassment and abuse.
Now, the “Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deep Fakes on Websites and Networks Act” — or TAKE IT DOWN Act — is an online safety bill designed to help address the problem. It criminalizes knowingly publishing or threatening to publish nonconsensual intimate imagery (i.e., explicit photos or videos shared without permission), including content generated through AI, online. Specifically, it targets deepfake and revenge pornography (intimate images shared to humiliate or harm someone). The act also requires online platforms to remove child sexual abuse material and nonconsensual intimate images within 48 hours of being notified by a victim to stop the rapid spread online and prevent further harm.
As a notable bipartisan movement, the bill is gaining traction in Congress. It was introduced in the Senate in June 2024 by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and reintroduced into the House in January 2025 by Rep. Maria Salazar, R-Fla. By February 2025, it passed the Senate unanimously — an extremely rare occurrence — and is currently advancing through the House with significant support from many tech companies, President Trump and the first lady.
As a body of young people vocalizing the needs of youth, we recognize the new challenges facing our generation in this country and urge fiercer protections for ourselves and our peers as they continue to live in a chronically online world. Over two years, the U.S. saw more than 13,000 cases of sextortion of minors through deepfakes, primarily victimizing 14- to 17-year-olds. The risks are real and growing.
Therefore, as the Youth Advisory Board of Plan International USA, we call on policymakers, youth advocates and caregivers to support and help pass the Take It Down Act.
The Take It Down Act not only holds offenders accountable via criminalization, but also ensures survivors are empowered and victims are protected in good faith through exemptions, such as to law enforcement or for medical purposes, while protecting free and lawful speech. The act specifically includes AI-generated content, as up to 95% of all internet deepfake videos depict nonconsensual intimate imagery, a staggering percentage that underscores the urgent need for action to protect minors and women this content principally targets. The Take It Down Act is the first of its kind in the online safety space, offering nationwide protections where only 20 states currently have explicit laws covering deepfake NCII. Even with these laws, victims have struggled to have images depicting them removed. This can lead to retraumatization, the continuous spread of said content and allowing perpetrators to evade responsibility. This reality makes swift action all the more urgent.
This act changes that. It would establish criminal penalties for publishing NCII across all states and require platforms to remove NCII within 48 hours of a victim’s request. Instead of placing the burden — especially financial and emotional — on victims to bring civil action to remove NCII, the responsibility would shift to perpetrators and online platforms. It would send a clear signal to all American citizens that online abuse is not tolerated and that victims deserve respect and empowerment.
Like the Kids Online Safety Act, which we also support, the Take It Down Act is not perfect, but it is a net positive that would address a threatening situation that is currently spiraling out of control. This is especially relevant given that social media platforms — where deepfake pornography and other forms of image-based abuse spread and surface — have reduced their content moderation policies, while AI has accelerated the production and dissemination of NCII and child sexual abuse materials. For example, a 2024 survey by Plan and CNN’s As Equals found that NCII is now the most common form of online harassment and abuse, with more than 40% reporting they received or saw unwanted sexual images online.
To stay updated on the Take It Down Act, visit the National Center on Sexual Exploitation and Design It For Us for more youth perspectives on this bill and other key legislation. As the Youth Advisory Board, we encourage readers — especially young readers — to stay informed not only about the Take It Down Act but also other bills impacting women and girls across the country. By staying informed, we can help build a more inclusive, safe and resilient society where all women and girls are empowered and protected online.
