US makes sharing Revenge Porn 'criminal offense' as the US House passes bill, just a step left

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that would make the nonconsensual sharing of intimate images, often referred to as "revenge porn," a federal offense. A New York Times report indicates that a bill supported by Melania Trump, aiming to establish strict penalties and guidelines for publishing and promoting revenge porn, has been introduced. This represents a significant move towards criminalising the harmful practice federally. Currently, while many states have laws against "revenge porn," a federal law would provide a more consistent and comprehensive approach to addressing the issue across the country. The bill passed the House with a decisive 409-2 vote, sending it to the then-President Donald Trump, who was widely anticipated to sign it quickly.
The legislation to address the issue of revenge porn was first introduced by ens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn in 2018. Take It Down Act, is the legislation passed by the US House of Representatives. This legislation aims to aggressively combat the sharing of revenge porn, mandating that social media companies and online platforms remove such content within two days of notification.Klobuchar stated that she discussed the bill with President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump during an Inauguration Day lunch.
Both the conservative and liberals voted in favour of the measure and the legislation was unanimously passed in February in the Senate. Also, President Trump's endorsement of the bill, including a mention during his joint address to Congress the previous month, likely facilitated its progress through Congress.
"It’s heartbreaking to witness young teens, especially girls, grappling with the overwhelming challenges posed by malicious online content, like deepfakes," Melania said during a roundtable discussion about the "Take It Down Act" at the US Capitol.
"This toxic environment can be severely damaging. We must prioritise their well-being by equipping them with the support and tools necessary to navigate this hostile digital landscape. Every young person deserves a safe online space to express themselves freely, without the looming threat of exploitation or harm," she added.
The Take It Down Act is receiving immense support is an example of growing frustration among lawmakers against social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and X for hosting harmful content which has a negative impact on children and teenagers.
Rep. María Elvira Salazar told NYT, “It is outrageously sick to use images -- the face, the voice, the likeness -- of a young, vulnerable female, to manipulate them, to extort them and to humiliate them publicly just for fun, just for revenge.”
This federal bill aligns with existing efforts in nearly every state; only South Carolina lacks a law criminalising revenge porn, and a significant number – at least 20 – have already addressed sexually explicit deepfakes.