Bipartisan Group of Senators Unveil Bill to Address Deepfake 'Revenge Porn'

On Tuesday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced a bipartisan bill to “protect and empower victims of non-consensual intimate image abuse—also known as ‘revenge pornography.’”

For Context: Following the emergence of consumer artificial intelligence tools in recent years, outlets across the spectrum have reported on instances of computer generated pornographic materials being created and spread online, depicting individuals without their consent. Notable individuals who have been depicted in these computer-generated porn materials, known as “deepfakes,” include singer Taylor Swift and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Reports surrounding this bill state that these tools have also been used to generate deepfake porn of highschoolers. 

Details: In addition to Cruz, the TAKE IT DOWN Act is co-sponsored by 12 Senators, including six Democrats, five Republicans, and one Independent. The bill would criminalize publishing or threatening to publish deepfake porn and would require social media platforms to create a process to quickly address reports of deepfake porn. 

Key Quote: Cruz said in a statement, “Many women and girls are forever harmed by these crimes, having to live with being victimized again and again. By creating a level playing field at the federal level and putting the responsibility on websites to have in place procedures to remove these images, our bill will protect and empower all victims of this heinous crime.”

How the Media Covered It: NBC News (Lean Left bias) noted that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed concern regarding the issue, but divides remains regarding how to address it through law.