Trump Signed a Bipartisan Deepfake ‘Revenge Porn’ Bill, Which Claims to Offer Victims Greater Protections

But concerningly, the law states that deepfake, sexual abuse imagery must be “indistinguishable from an authentic visual depiction” of an identifiable individual—a considerable threshold that could leave victims in the lurch. Trump, himself, has advocated for the law because he’s said it should be used to protect him: “Nobody is treated worse online than I am, nobody,” he said in support of the bill during his address to the joint session of Congress in March. The 19th notes that this comment from the president, who is notorious for his sweeping attacks on free speech and threats to his critics, has “made activists worry that the bill could be used to remove critical political speech, especially in the context of a wider crackdown by the current administration.”

Further, organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation have also raised concerns about the new law and its potential impacts on sex workers. The law’s 48-hour takedown requirement, the organization says, may not be enough time for online platforms to verify whether content is nonconsensual, leading them to quickly remove consensual sexual conduct, which could unfairly target and punish sex workers.

In April, when the bill first advanced in Congress, Evan Greer, director of the digital rights advocacy organization Fight for the Future, warned that the Take It Down Act “is a classic example of a bill that tries to solve a real problem, but would do more harm than good [because] lawmakers care more about SAYING they’re doing something than ACTUALLY doing something. As it stands, this bill threatens free expression.”

So… sentiment about the Take It Down Act in progressive spaces is pretty mixed at this time. Feminist groups have also been fairly quiet, which could *maybe* have something to do with Trump being a legally recognized sexual assailant and serially accused rapist, as well as a frequent, shameless purveyor of deepfake graphics, harmful AI slop, and online disinformation, himself. 

Nevertheless, one thing’s for certain: AI-based, deepfake sexual abuse is a huge issue, and thanks to the widespread availability of predatory, creepy apps, it’s never been easier to generate this material. Twitch streamers, celebrities like Emma Watson, abuse victims, and children have all already fallen victim. We do need action from lawmakers—but that action should take into account the concerns of digital rights and free speech advocates. 

For now, keep resources like the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative—an advocacy organization that combats online abuse by offering a free, 24/7 hotline to victims of image-based sexual abuse at 1-844-878-2274—in your back pocket. CCRI also provides a list of contacts to reach out to if you’re trying to remove such images from major search engines, social media platforms, dating services, and pornography sites.

If you or someone you know are experiencing sexual abuse or domestic violence and seeking support, you can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline online or at their free 24/7 phone line at 1-800-799-7233.