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Trump Enacts 48-Hour Image Takedown Law, $53K Fines

5/20/2026

26 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Trump Signs Law

U.S. President Donald Trump signed TAKE IT DOWN Act on May 19, 2025.
The law mandates platforms to have a takedown system by May 19, 2026 and delete reported images within 48 hours.
Violations carry $53,088 fines per breach and up to two years prison, with harsher terms for minors.
The Federal Trade Commission warned major services such as Meta, Snapchat, TikTok, X and decentralized platforms like Lens, Farcaster and Nostr to comply.

Summary

Cruz, Klobuchar Sponsor

Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) co-sponsored the Take It Down Act.
RAINN hailed the law as a historic win for survivors of image-based abuse.
Free-speech advocates warn steep penalties may push platforms to delete consensual adult material and LGBTQIA+ content.
President Donald Trump told Congress in a 2025 address he would use the bill against online attacks, sparking critics’ fear of political weaponization.

Summary

FTC Enforces

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) began enforcing the TAKE IT DOWN Act on May 19 2026, imposing removal duties on platforms.
Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson launched TakeItDown.ftc.gov for victims to file complaints about non-consensual intimate images.
The portal also records reports against platforms that lack an approved removal process.
Ferguson said the tool aims to protect children and families as AI-generated abuse rises.

History

Historical Context

Congress enacted the Child Pornography Prevention Act in 1996, signed by President Bill Clinton, but the Supreme Court struck its broad provisions down in Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition (2002). Congress responded with the PROTECT Act of 2003. Building on that precedent, the 2025 TAKE IT DOWN Act, backed by Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, forces platforms to erase non-consensual images within 48 hours.

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Trump Signs Law

U.S. President Donald Trump signed TAKE IT DOWN Act on May 19, 2025.
The law mandates platforms to have a takedown system by May 19, 2026 and delete reported images within 48 hours.
Violations carry $53,088 fines per breach and up to two years prison, with harsher terms for minors.
The Federal Trade Commission warned major services such as Meta, Snapchat, TikTok, X and decentralized platforms like Lens, Farcaster and Nostr to comply.

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