FTC Starts Enforcing TAKE IT DOWN Act: Deepfake Intimate Image Removal in 48 Hours
The FTC began enforcing the TAKE IT DOWN Act (TIDA) on May 19, 2026. Covered platforms must remove nonconsensual intimate images and related copies within 48 hours after a valid request.
On May 19, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the start of enforcement of the TAKE IT DOWN Act (TIDA), a consumer-protection rule aimed at nonconsensual intimate image abuse—including AI-assisted “deepfake” exploitation and extortion schemes built around it. Under TIDA, covered online platforms are required to provide a clear removal-request process and act quickly once they receive a valid request. The FTC’s enforcement announcement emphasizes that after a platform receives a qualifying complaint, it must remove the nonconsensual intimate images and related copies within 48 hours. The FTC framed the initiative as a direct response to the growing role of synthetic media in fraud—where scammers create or manipulate images to threaten victims, extort them, or coerce payment while leveraging platforms to spread the content. In addition to enforcement, the agency said it issued guidance for consumers and businesses to help people understand how to submit removal requests and what obligations platforms must meet. The FTC also launched a dedicated complaint intake website to support enforcement actions connected to TIDA.
What this article means for a user right now
The FTC began enforcing the TAKE IT DOWN Act (TIDA) on May 19, 2026. Covered platforms must remove nonconsensual intimate images and related copies within 48 hours after a valid request.
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