The House of Representatives on Monday approved a bill against “revenge porn” by a 409-2 vote, in a showing of bipartisan support for legislation backed by first lady Melania Trump. Revenge porn is the malicious distribution of sexual images of a victim.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who argued the bill was “ripe for abuse,” and Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., were the only congressmen to vote against it.
The bill was passed by the Senate unanimously in February. The Take It Down Act would impose legal penalties for creating deepfake artificial intelligence-created pornography using a victim’s image and “require social media and other websites to remove such images within 48 hours of receiving notice from the victim.”
Melania Trump, who has championed opposition to cyberbullying, has publicly promoted the bill, including at a roundtable discussion with members of Congress and victims of revenge porn.
A spokesman for the first lady explained her interest in the issue to the Daily Signal, saying, “First Lady Melania Trump believes that protecting children from online exploitation is a fundamental responsibility and a central part of her ‘Be Best.’ initiative.”
“Be Best” is her public awareness campaign, focused on teaching children the importance of “social, emotional, and physical health.”
“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,” the first lady said at the discussion.
“Every young person deserves a safe online space to express themself freely, without the looming threat of exploitation or harm.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who introduced the bill to the Senate, said, “Everyone has the right to have these disturbing images removed from the internet immediately … I am honored that first lady Melania Trump has lent her strong voice to this cause.”
After the bill’s passage, the first lady said in a statement, “I am thankful to the Members of Congress—both in the House and Senate—who voted to protect the well-being of our youth. Through this critical legislation … we are building a future where every child can thrive and achieve their full potential.”
Her spokesman also told The Daily Signal that she was proud to sponsor the legislation because it “establishes clear accountability for malicious behavior, provides necessary protections for individuals whose privacy is violated.”
The spokesman added that Melania will continue working in this space as she looks forward to “Be Best Day” on May 7th.
“As part of her Be Best Initiative, First Lady Melania Trump is focused on Foster Care and supporting youth as they enter adulthood. May is National Foster Care Month,” he said.
