Ban deepfake porn
Ban on nonconsensual intimate deepfakes. Publishing nonconsensual intimate deepfakes is a crime, and platforms must take them down fast.
What it does
Making or posting sexual deepfakes of a real person without consent is a federal crime, and platforms must remove them within 48 hours of a valid request. Adding DEFIANCE would let victims sue creators for at least $150,000.
Applies to: People who publish, and platforms that host, intimate images.
- Publishing nonconsensual intimate deepfakes is a crime, and platforms must take them down fast.
Where things stand
This is already federal law (criminal ban plus takedown). Most states also have their own intimate-deepfake laws.
Why it costs almost no lead
It targets people and platforms, not model training. Under a day.
Biggest unknown: How aggressively the FTC enforces takedowns and whether bad-faith takedown requests end up suppressing lawful speech.
Its effect on p(doom)
Protects people from sexual deepfakes made and posted without their consent.
An everyday harm, not a catastrophic one.
The strongest case that it costs more
Free-speech groups warn that fast takedown rules can be abused to remove lawful content.
The debate
For
- Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar Authored the TAKE IT DOWN Act, signed May 2025
- First Lady Melania Trump and President Trump Championed and signed the Act in May 2025
- FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson May 2026: began enforcement, warned 15 platforms, launched TakeItDown.ftc.gov
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Dick Durbin Lead the DEFIANCE Act civil remedy, passed Senate Jan 2026
Against
- Electronic Frontier Foundation 2025: the takedown system lacks safeguards against bad-faith requests, will over-censor lawful speech and threatens encryption
- Free speech advocates (per TechPolicy.Press) 2025 concerns as the Act passed the Senate about overbroad takedowns
Sources
- FTC Begins Enforcing the TAKE IT DOWN Act: May 19, 2026 enforcement start
- Cruz, Klobuchar mark one year of TAKE IT DOWN Act: First conviction, supporters
- EFF: The TAKE IT DOWN Act, a flawed attempt to protect victims: Main critique
- S.1837 DEFIANCE Act of 2025 text: Pending civil remedy
Rough starting points, not precise forecasts. Lead costs assume China doesn't depend on U.S. models, the case least favorable to safety laws, and count 3 years. On the menu you can change every assumption and put in your own numbers. Last priced 2026-09-26.