Protecting Online Safety in the Age of Deepfakes and Exploitation

This article discusses the TAKE IT DOWN Act. We’ll go over what it means for online safety when you’ve been the victim of an attack.

When it comes to online reputation management (ORM) and the TAKE IT DOWN Act, which went into effect on May 19, 2025, both have the overarching goal of protecting people from damaging online content.

If harmful content ruins your digital presence, it can affect your relationships, career and future. When this happens, the main priority is to restore the victim’s reputation — along with their privacy — as quickly as possible.

Today, reputation managers can use the TAKE IT DOWN Act to their advantage. It helps escalate removal requests and suppress malicious content.

The way you’re perceived online matters. A poor online reputation can damage your personal life and your professional opportunities. Get in touch with us today at (844) 458-6735 to discuss online safety and reputation in today’s digital world.

An Overview of the TAKE IT DOWN Act: Protecting Young People and Adults in the Online World

President Trump signed the TAKE IT DOWN Act into law on May 19, 2025. The acronym stands for Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act. The legislation became active as soon as the act was signed.

In the digital world, online safety is a huge concern. The purpose of the act is to crack down on the publication and spread of non-consensual imagery generated authentically or by artificial intelligence.

An article published in 2021 in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, titled Personality, Attitudinal, and Demographic Predictors of Non-consensual Dissemination of Intimate Images, found that more than 28% of undergraduate students were the victims of nude or sexual pictures being distributed without their consent.

If an individual or platform continues to post or share the content after they receive a removal request, they could be penalized. The content must be removed within 48 hours of receiving the request from the victim. Penalties include fines and prison time.

In order to be removed, the content has to meet the following criteria, according to the summary of the act:

• “an adult subject where publication is intended to cause or does cause harm to the subject, and where the depiction was published without the subject’s consent or, in the case of an authentic depiction, was created or obtained under circumstances where the adult had a reasonable expectation of privacy; or
• a minor subject where publication is intended to abuse or harass the minor or to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person.”

The online safety act is bipartisan legislation (meaning it has support from both political parties). It was introduced by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican.

Support for the TAKE IT DOWN Act: Removing Inappropriate Content and Staying Safe Online

Following the signing of the bill, both Senator Klobuchar and Senator Cruz made supportive statements about staying safe online:

• Senator Klobuchar: “We must provide victims of online abuse with the legal protections they need when intimate images are shared without their consent, especially now that deepfakes are creating horrifying new opportunities for abuse.”
• Senator Cruz: “Predators who weaponize new technology to post this exploitative filth will now rightfully face criminal consequences, and Big Tech will no longer be allowed to turn a blind eye to the spread of this vile material.”

The act also had the support of First Lady Melania Trump, who helped push it through Congress. During a Capitol Hill roundtable in March 2025, Melania Trump said the following:

“It’s heartbreaking to witness young teens, especially girls, grappling with the overwhelming challenges posed by malicious online content, like deepfakes. This toxic environment can be severely damaging. We must prioritize their well-being by equipping them with the support and tools necessary to navigate this hostile digital landscape. Every young person deserves a safe online space to express themself freely, without the looming threat of exploitation or harm.”

From 24-hour monitoring to content suppression to keep your real life private, our team of ORM experts can help you create the online presence you’re after. Contact us at (844) 458-6735 for more information.

Risks of the TAKE IT DOWN Act: Censorship of Platforms and People Online

Though the act has support from both the Democratic and Republic parties, it’s not without its criticisms:

• The act’s broad language could cause censorship issues. This is particularly concerning when it comes to LGBTQ content and legal pornography. (Source: AP)
• There’s now a route to manipulate platforms and websites to remove lawful free speech. (Source: Electronic Frontier Foundation)
• The takedown provision in the act is susceptible to misuse. It could even cause more harm to victims. (Source: Cyber Civil Rights Initiative)

If you need online presence safety tips or advice for building your reputation in the online world, get in touch with us at (844) 458-6735 today. It’s possible to share personal information online while protecting your privacy.

Safety Tips and Next Steps To Protect Your Digital Presence

There are a number of ORM strategies to build or repair your digital footprint. Here are just a few of them:

• Regular monitoring for new content and mentions about you online
• Suppressing negative content through targeted SEO strategies
• Creating positive content to further shape your online narrative

By staying on top of what’s posted about you — both by monitoring online content and generating your own — you’ll know exactly when something harmful goes live and who can gain access to it.

Additionally, when it comes to the times when you choose to share personal information online, be thoughtful and purposeful about it. Always assume that anyone will be able to gain access to what you post, even if you think it’s going on a private social media account. Nothing in the online world is ever truly private.

With these safety tips and tools, you’ll be able to notify social media sites and platforms about content you need removed. If the content fits the requirements of the act, it will be gone within 48 hours, unless the person who posted it is willing to face legal consequences.

A Balanced Take on ORM and the Act

The TAKE IT DOWN Act has certain benefits that will be helpful to a number of people. These include swift recourse when harmful content is posted online.

On the other hand, oversensitivity to online content could result in unfounded removal requests being submitted and even followed by webmasters who are worried about the repercussions should they not comply.

At ReputationSciences.com, we work with clients who are ready to create, grow or repair their digital reputation. Whether you’re prioritizing your personal or professional online reputation, our team of experts and tailored services can help. Call us at (844) 458-6735 today to speak with a specialist.