U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) marked the first-ever conviction secured under the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act (TAKE IT DOWN).
“Predators using deepfakes to target women and children are being prosecuted. NO MERCY,” Congresswoman Salazar wrote in a post via X. “This law is delivering exactly what it promised: accountability and protection.”
Congresswoman Salazar additionally praised the First Lady of the U.S. (FLOTUS), Melania Trump, for her role in the matter. “FLOTUS drove this effort, got it across the finish line, and it’s already working,” the Florida Republican wrote.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the conviction of a 37-year-old man from Ohio “who used more than 100 artificial intelligence models to create and distribute sexually explicit images of women and minors without their consent as part of a sustained harassment campaign,” according to a press release from the Congresswoman’s website.
“One of my most important responsibilities as a Representative is keeping our families safe, both in our neighborhoods and online,” Rep. Salazar expressed in a statement. “For years, predators hid behind screens while victims were told nothing could be done."
The TAKE IT DOWN Act is a federal law aimed at combating the distribution of non-consensual AI-generated deepfake pornography and intimate images, deeming it a federal crime. The law also requires online platforms to remove the material within 48 hours of notification, allowing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce the removals.
The bipartisan bill was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). With a companion bill proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Madeleine Dean (D-PA). The law was ratified in May 2025.
“Those days are over. This conviction proves the TAKE IT DOWN Act is working. If you target women or children using this technology, you will be found, prosecuted, and locked up. No excuses.” the Congresswoman added.
