Pasco Reporter

A bipartisan coalition of advocates and lawmakers celebrated the House Committee on Energy and Commerce's approval of the "TAKE IT DOWN Act" in Washington, D.C. This legislative milestone sees the act moving forward by a committee vote of 49 to 1, aiming to provide stronger protections against online harassment through AI-generated material.

Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), who chairs the committee, expressed his gratitude for the coalition backing the bill. "No man, woman, or child should be subjected to the spread of explicit AI images meant to target and harass innocent victims," he said. Guthrie indicated that he looks forward to the bill's full House vote and its eventual presentation for presidential approval.

First Lady Melania Trump emphasized the legislation's role in safeguarding children online. "I remain dedicated to championing child well-being," she stated, urging Congress to expedite the bill's passage. Her sentiments highlight the bipartisan drive behind the bill, which has spurred action to secure online safety for the young.

Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), who leads the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, pointed to the bill's impact on protecting victims of online sexual exploitation, including provisions specific to AI-generated deepfake content. The legislative progress comes in the wake of personal tragedies like that of Elijah Heacock, a victim of an internet extortion scheme. His mother, Shannon Cronister-Heacock, expressed gratitude for the bill's advancement in memory of her son.

The bill also received support from survivors like Elliston Berry, who faced deepfake image distribution at a young age. She expressed relief at the act's progress, which promises legal protections that were absent during her ordeal. "No other girl has to go through what I went through without legal protections in place," she remarked.

Francesca Mani, an advocate who became a TIME100 Most Influential Person following her own experience with AI misuse, celebrated the bill's passage as a step toward federal law. "This journey is dedicated to every woman and teenager told to stay silent," she said.

Advocate Dorota Mani emphasized the importance of the act, describing it as a "federal safeguard against non-consensual AI-generated intimate images." Furthermore, Andrea Powell of Alecto AI underlined the justice and protection the act aims to extend to all victims of image-based abuse, stating, "Every survivor should be able to report their abuse to law enforcement."

The unanimous commentary from lawmakers and advocates reflects a unified commitment to addressing modern-day online threats, with the act positioned as an essential federal measure to protect individuals from evolving digital abuses.