FTC Enforces Take It Down Act for AI Deepfakes May 19
FTC Launches Take It Down Act Enforcement Framework
The Federal Trade Commission will begin enforcement of Section 3 of the Take It Down Act (TIDA) on May 19, 2026, establishing binding legal obligations for major technology platforms to remove nonconsensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated deepfakes, within a strict 48-hour deadline.
FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson sent compliance letters to more than a dozen technology companies on May 16, 2026, including Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, Automattic, Bumble, Discord, Match Group, Meta, Microsoft, Pinterest, Reddit, SmugMug, Snapchat, TikTok, and X. The letters reminded these platforms that they must establish notice-and-removal processes for victims of nonconsensual intimate images before the May 19 deadline.
Scope: Real Images and Digital Forgeries
The law covers both nonconsensual intimate real photographs and videos as well as "digital forgeries"—content created or altered using software, applications, or artificial intelligence. This represents the first federal requirement that platforms establish transparent removal mechanisms specifically for AI-generated intimate imagery.
Under TIDA Section 3, covered platforms that receive a valid removal request must delete the content and all known identical copies within 48 hours. The FTC guidance also requires platforms to provide clear and conspicuous notice to users about how to submit removal requests and what the platform's process will be.
Enforcement and Penalties
Ferguson stated in the FTC press release: "We stand ready to monitor compliance, investigate violations, and enforce the Take It Down Act." Violations carry significant financial consequences—civil penalties of $53,088 per violation
