US federal law against non-consensual intimate images, including AI deepfakes. Criminal rules apply since May 2025; platforms must remove reported content within 48 hours since 19 May 2026.
The TAKE IT DOWN Act makes it a federal crime to knowingly publish intimate images of a person without consent, including AI-generated digital forgeries, or to threaten to do so. Penalties are up to two years in prison where the victim is an adult and three years where the victim is a minor.
Since 19 May 2026, platforms that mainly host user content must remove such images within 48 hours of a valid request and make reasonable efforts to remove copies. The Federal Trade Commission enforces the platform duties, with civil penalties of up to $53,088 per violation, and has opened TakeItDown.ftc.gov for complaints.
Corrected 'create or share' to 'publish or threaten to publish'; covered platforms are those that mainly host user content; added FTC penalty level and guidance source