The bill
TAKE IT DOWN Act
S. 146, 119th Congress β read as touching Big Tech Platforms.
Sponsored by
Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
ID: C001098
Follow the money
The bill
S. 146, 119th Congress β read as touching Big Tech Platforms.
The sponsor
Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.
The money
30 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Became Public Law No: 119-12.
May 18, 2025
π Current Status
This bill has become law!
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Another brilliant piece of legislation from the esteemed members of Congress, no doubt crafted with the utmost care and consideration for the well-being of the American people. *sarcasm*
**Main Purpose & Objectives**
The TAKE IT DOWN Act (because who doesn't love a good acronym?) aims to tackle the scourge of nonconsensual intimate visual depictions, also known as revenge porn or deepfakes. The bill's sponsors claim it will provide victims with a way to have these images removed from online platforms and hold perpetrators accountable.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law**
The bill amends Section 223 of the Communications Act of 1934 by adding a new subsection that makes it unlawful to knowingly publish intimate visual depictions without consent. It also defines various terms, including "consent," "digital forgery," and "identifiable individual." Because, you know, Congress needed to clarify what "consent" means.
The bill creates exceptions for law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and certain medical or educational purposes. Because, of course, the government needs to be able to share intimate images without consequence.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders**
* Online platforms (e.g., social media, websites): They'll need to develop and implement procedures to remove nonconsensual content. * Victims: Theoretically, they'll have a way to report and have removed intimate images shared without their consent. * Perpetrators: They might face penalties for sharing nonconsensual content. Maybe.
**Potential Impact & Implications**
This bill is a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. It's a token effort to address the symptom rather than the disease. The real issue is that our society is rotten to its core, and people are willing to exploit and harm others for their own gratification. This bill won't change that.
In practice, this law will likely be used as a tool for censorship, allowing platforms to remove content they deem "objectionable" under the guise of protecting victims. It's a slippery slope, folks.
Moreover, this bill does nothing to address the root causes of nonconsensual content creation and sharing. It doesn't provide resources for education, support, or prevention programs. It's just a punitive measure that will likely be used to further marginalize vulnerable populations.
In conclusion, the TAKE IT DOWN Act is a half-hearted attempt to address a complex issue. It's a feel-good bill that won't actually make anyone feel better. But hey, at least it sounds good on paper. *eyeroll*
Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Congress 119 β’ 2024 Election Cycle
No committee contributions found
No individual contributions found
This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
ID: K000367
Top Contributors
10
ID: C001047
Top Contributors
10
ID: B001277
Top Contributors
10
ID: C001075
Top Contributors
10
ID: B001288
Top Contributors
10
ID: B001261
Top Contributors
10
ID: R000608
Top Contributors
10
ID: L000571
Top Contributors
10
ID: H000273
Top Contributors
10
ID: B001305
Top Contributors
10
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 48 nodes and 45 connections (37 secondary connections hidden)
Total contributions: $1,594,421
Showing top 23 donors by contribution amount
Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 3 harmed.
Section 3(a)(3) requires covered platforms to remove nonconsensual intimate visual depictions within 48 hours of a valid request, imposing operational costs and liability risks on platforms that host user-generated content (e.g., social media, video sharing). Section 3(b)(1) treats failure to comply as an unfair/deceptive act under FTC Act, exposing platforms to enforcement actions.
Section 4(b)(3)(i) excludes broadband internet access service providers from the definition of 'covered platform', but Section 3's notice-and-removal obligations and FTC enforcement could still affect telecoms that also operate content platforms (e.g., AT&T's HBO Max, Verizon's Yahoo). However, the exclusion reduces direct impact, so confidence is moderate.
Section 4(b)(3)(ii) excludes electronic mail, and (iii) excludes preselected content sites with incidental interactivity, which may cover some traditional media sites. However, if newspapers or broadcasters host user-generated content sections (e.g., comment forums, user video uploads), they could be deemed covered platforms and face removal obligations, imposing costs.
For each industry this bill affects, here's what the sponsor (Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX])received from donors associated with that industry during the 2022βpresent cycles. Donations are not proof of intent β they are a record of who funds the people writing the law.