First lady Melania Trump is set to speak out against the dissemination of non-consensual sexually explicit images at a roundtable on Capitol Hill, showing support for the recently passed Take it Down Act. The Act, spearheaded by Senators Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar, targets the publication of such images, including AI-generated deepfakes, mandating technology platforms to remove reported content upon valid requests.
This legislative effort has garnered support from RAINN and 23 other organizations advocating for swift passage of the bill, citing instances like the unauthorized creation and spread of explicit images of Taylor Swift during a football game. Despite clear policy violations, these AI-generated images garnered millions of views and interactions before being taken down.
The roundtable, scheduled for 2 p.m. on Monday, will bring together survivors of non-consensual intimate imagery, advocates for online safety, and lawmakers. Melania Trump’s involvement in this initiative aligns with her past efforts against cyberbullying through the “Be Best” campaign during her earlier tenure as first lady, focusing on the well-being and safety of children in the digital age.
In the fight against the exploitation of non-consensual intimate images, this event signifies a crucial step towards protecting individuals’ privacy and dignity online, highlighting the importance of legislative measures in combating such harmful practices.
