Four dedicated NCOSE team members were invited to the signing: Marcel van der Watt, President; Eleanor Gaetan, Vice President and Director of Public Policy; Megan Griffin, Public Policy Advocacy Manager; and Dawn Hawkins, Senior Advisor and former CEO.
After two years of advocating for this law, we were honored to be personally invited to witness this historic moment, alongside the bill’s bipartisan cosponsors, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Sen Ted Cruz (R-TX).
We hope you see this as a recognition of your efforts as well! Every email you sent to your legislators, every donation, every share on social media—it all mattered! We wish we could have had every one of you join us at the White House, but know that we carried you gratefully in our hearts, remembering everything you’ve done to make this monumental victory possible.
What the TAKE IT DOWN Act Does
Under this new law, publishing or distributing non-consensual sexually explicit material (including AI-generated images/“deepfake pornography”) is finally a federal crime. Additionally, social media platforms and similar websites will be required to remove these images within 48 hours once a survivor reports them.
The notice and takedown provision established by the TAKE IT DOWN Act is similar to copyright law—which means we already know it works! Image-based sexual abuse will now be removed as quickly as copyrighted material, like Disney movies, are removed from YouTube.
A Testament to the Importance of Bipartisan Efforts
The TAKE IT DOWN Act becoming law is a heartwarming testament to what we can achieve when we overcome political differences and work together to end sexual exploitation. The bill garnered overwhelming bipartisan support, passing unanimously in the Senate and 409-2 in the House.
NCOSE is firmly committed to a nonpartisan, nonreligious approach, recognizing that the harms of sexual exploitation transcend ideology—and that people of all political and faith backgrounds can and should unite to confront them.
We are so proud to be part of this bipartisan movement with people like you, and to stand alongside people of all creeds, fighting for a world where all can live and love free from sexual abuse and exploitation.
Not a Fantasy
How the Pornography Industry Exploits Image-Based Sexual Abuse in Real Life
It would be hard to overestimate the incredible impact this new law will have.
Image-based sexual abuse affects an astonishing number of people, and that number is only growing by the day. Especially with the explosion of AI tools that create “deepfake” pornography (more appropriately termed AI-generated IBSA), anyone can be victimized through IBSA within seconds.
For example, a 2025 report from Thorn found that around 1 in 8 young people personally knew someone who, while under 18, had been the target of AI-generated IBSA/“deepfake” pornography (13%) and/or someone who had used the technologies to create or redistribute AI-generated IBSA of other minors (12%). The rates are even higher among LGBTQ+ youth (18% and 23%).
Even before the rise of AI tools, a 2017 survey showed that 1 in 8 people had experienced threats or actual distribution of sexually explicit images without their permission, with women disproportionately affected.
IBSA causes devastating, often lifelong trauma to survivors. Many survivors have to deal with their abuse images being circulated online to perpetuity, as efforts to get them removed are often unsuccessful. As a result, survivors of IBSA suffer serious mental health harms, with 51% of survivors contemplating suicide.
The TAKE IT DOWN Act shines hope into this grim reality by deterring perpetrators and ensuring reported IBSA is removed swiftly. This way, survivors will no longer have to spend the rest of their lives begging indifferent tech companies to remove their abuse images, only for the images to be reuploaded again and again without end.
We cannot thank you enough for working alongside us to pass this crucial law! Today, the future is brighter for countless survivors and potential survivors of IBSA. And it is thanks to you.
NCOSE leads the Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation with over 300 member organizations.
100+
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation has had over 100 policy victories since 2010. Each victory promotes human dignity above exploitation.
93
NCOSE’s activism campaigns and victories have made headlines around the globe. Averaging 93 mentions per week by media outlets and shows such as Today, CNN, The New York Times, BBC News, USA Today, Fox News and more.
93
NCOSE’s activism campaigns and victories have made headlines around the globe. Averaging 93 mentions per week by media outlets and shows such as Today, CNN, The New York Times, BBC News, USA Today, Fox News and more.
100+
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation has had over 100 policy victories since 2010. Each victory promotes human dignity above exploitation.
300+
NCOSE leads the Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation with over 300 member organizations.
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