THE SIGNAL
The House of Representatives voted decisively on Monday to enact legislation that targets the exploitation of nonconsensual intimate photos online, including deepfake pornography produced by artificial intelligence, giving First Lady Melania Trump a significant legislative victory. With a resounding 409–2 bipartisan vote, the TAKE IT DOWN Act passed and is now on its way to President Donald Trump’s desk for final approval.
The purpose of the law is to make it illegal to distribute or threaten to publish private photos—whether they are real or digitally altered—without permission. Earlier this year, the bill was unanimously approved by the Senate. Leading supporter of the bill, Melania Trump has linked it to her long-running “Be Best” campaign, which emphasizes child welfare and internet safety.