Victims of non-consensual, intimate online images, including deepfake AI-generated content, will soon have new legal options to have the content removed after US President Donald Trump signed what has become known as the Take It Down Act.
First lady Melania Trump, who has been a major proponent of the legislation, gave a speech just before Mr Trump signed the bill into law.
“Over the past few months I have met with brave survivors, deeply loving families and advocates who know first hand the emotional and psychological toll of NCII and deepfake abuse,” she said at the bill-signing ceremony outside the White House. “Many thanks to both parties for passing this legislation.”
According to the US Senate committee on commerce, science and transport, the Take It Down Act criminalises the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery, often referred to as “revenge porn”.
The law requires that social media sites or other content-hosting websites, along with service providers, “remove such content within 48 hours of notice from victims".
Just before signing the bill into law, Mr Trump said it increases penalties and introduces civil liabilities for online platforms that do not act to take such content down.
The act also includes provisions related to content generated with artificial intelligence tools.
According to The 19th, a non-profit newsroom focused on gender, politics and policy, internet platforms will have approximately one year to establish a process by which users can report the non-consensual content.
Though Take It Down passed almost unanimously in the US House of Representatives and the Senate, the act is not without critics.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a non-profit group promoting civil liberties in the tech world, has voiced frequent concerns.
“Good intentions don’t make good laws,” the EFF said in a news release when the act was first introduced in January.
It said the legislation's 48-hour deadline would put too much burden on smaller websites and service providers, making it more likely that they would comply quickly, rather than accurately, to avoid litigation.
“Instead, services will rely on automated filters – infamously blunt tools that frequently flag legal content, from fair-use commentary to news reporting,” the EFF said.
“Take It Down is the wrong approach to helping people whose intimate images are shared without their consent. We can help victims of online harassment without embracing a new regime of online censorship.”
The commerce committee, however, insists that the act is narrowly tailored to uphold the First Amendment and in turn, prevent an effect on “lawful speech".
According to the committee, the Take It Down Act also has the support of more than 120 organisations and companies including Meta, Snap, Google, Microsoft, TikTok and X.
Linda Yaccarino, chief executive of X, attended the bill-signing ceremony.
In February, as Take It Down legislation was gaining momentum, the EFF continued to oppose the bill, pointing out that victims of non-consensual intimate imagery already had legal options.
“In addition to 48 states that have specific laws criminalising the distribution of non-consensual pornography, there are defamation, harassment and extortion statutes that can all be wielded against people abusing NCII,” it said.
“Congress should focus on enforcing and improving these existing protections.”
The Take It Down Act is not the first law aimed at protecting reputations from being unfairly compromised.
In 2014, the European Union enacted what has become known as a “right to be forgotten” policy, which makes it easier for people to request deletion of certain private data collected by digital entities.
Much like the Take It Down Act, however, the “right to be forgotten” is not without critics, and has been subject to legal challenges in parts of the world.
Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.
Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.
The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.
'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
Rating: 4/5
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
About Seez
Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017
Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer
Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
Sector: Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing
Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed
Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A
Investors: Wamda Capital, B&Y and Phoenician Funds
Results
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m; Winner: Ghaiyyath, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Cliffs Of Capri, Tadhg O’Shea, Jamie Osborne.
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Zakouski, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: Waady, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
Honeymoonish
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Full Party in the Park line-up
2pm – Andreah
3pm – Supernovas
4.30pm – The Boxtones
5.30pm – Lighthouse Family
7pm – Step On DJs
8pm – Richard Ashcroft
9.30pm – Chris Wright
10pm – Fatboy Slim
11pm – Hollaphonic
