First Lady Melania Trump is set to publicly address the issue of deepfake and revenge pornography, marking her first public appearance since her husband’s return to office. She will host a roundtable discussion on Capitol Hill to promote the “TAKE IT DOWN” Act, a bill introduced by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz to protect individuals from non-consensual sharing of sexual images, including AI-generated deepfake porn. The bill aims to criminalize the publication of such content and requires social media platforms to promptly remove it upon victim notification.
Instances of AI-generated non-consensual porn have affected prominent figures like Taylor Swift and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as high school girls. Despite bipartisan support in the Senate during the previous session of Congress, the bill did not pass the House. Cruz, along with Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Madeleine Dean, are reintroducing the bill with Melania Trump’s support.
Melania Trump’s involvement in this cause aligns with her past initiatives on online safety through her “Be Best” platform. Her commitment to safeguarding children and educating them on online risks has been a consistent theme. While she has spent limited time in Washington during her husband’s second term, she remains active in advocating for important issues and supporting legislative efforts to protect individuals from digital exploitation. Her engagement underscores her dedication to her role as a mother, first lady, and advocate for impactful change.
