WASHINGTON, D.C. — Online platforms now face federal enforcement deadlines requiring them to remove nonconsensual intimate images within 48 hours of a valid request under a newly enforced federal law aimed at combating digital exploitation and online extortion.
What This Means for You
- Victims can now file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission if platforms fail to remove intimate images shared without consent.
- Covered websites and apps must provide a removal request process and act within 48 hours of valid requests.
- The law applies to both authentic and AI-generated intimate content shared without permission.
The Federal Trade Commission announced it has begun enforcing the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a federal law requiring online platforms to remove intimate photos or videos posted without a person’s consent after receiving a valid removal request.
The agency also launched a new complaint website, TakeItDown.ftc.gov, where victims and survivors can report platforms that fail to comply with the law’s requirements.
The law targets what are commonly referred to as “nonconsensual intimate images,” meaning sexually explicit photos or videos shared online without the subject’s permission. The law also applies to AI-generated content designed to resemble real people.
Platforms Face New Compliance Requirements
Under Section 3 of the law, covered platforms were required by May 19, 2026, to establish a process allowing users to request removal of intimate content shared without consent.
The law further requires platforms to remove the reported material — along with any known identical copies — within 48 hours after receiving a valid request.
A covered platform generally refers to websites, apps, or online services that host user-generated content.
The FTC said the complaint portal also accepts reports from users who cannot locate a removal request process on a platform.
“Thanks to First Lady Melania Trump’s dedication, the public, especially children, will have recourse against digital exploitation and extortion,” FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson said in a statement. “In the age of AI, anyone can be targeted, and that becomes even more appalling if children are involved.”
Ferguson added that the law provides the FTC with “an effective tool to protect minors against this form of abuse.”
FTC Warned Major Tech Companies Ahead of Deadline
The FTC said Ferguson sent warning letters earlier this month to several major technology and social media companies reminding them of their obligations under the law before the May 19 enforcement deadline.
The companies included Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Reddit, TikTok, and X, among others.
Additional companies receiving letters included Automattic, Bumble, Discord, Match Group, Pinterest, SmugMug, and Snapchat.
Consumer and Business Guidance Published
Alongside enforcement efforts, the FTC said it released new guidance for consumers explaining what steps to take if intimate images are posted online without consent.
The agency also issued compliance guidance for businesses outlining how platforms can meet the law’s removal and reporting requirements.
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