How Trump's new deepfake 'Take It Down Act' empowers US schools to safeguard students from digital abuse

President Donald Trump signed the " Take It Down Act " into law, a historic piece of legislation that addresses the growing threat of non-consensual intimate imagery and AI-generated deepfakes . The new law empowers schools across the US by providing them with stronger tools to combat digital harassment and protect students from online exploitation. The law's scope includes AI-generated "deepfakes," which have become a rising challenge, especially among young people.

The legislation mandates that social media platforms remove such harmful content within 48 hours of being flagged. It also criminalizes the creation and sharing of these images, particularly those involving minors. This action is seen as an important step in helping schools address a crisis that has left many educators and parents struggling to keep up with rapidly evolving technology.

A historic move to protect students
The "Take It Down Act" marks the first federal law in the US to include criminal penalties for the creation of AI-generated deepfakes, as well as for threatening to post intimate images without consent. As reported by EducationWeek, the law's focus on empowering schools comes at a critical time. Teachers and administrators have voiced concerns over the ease with which students can create and distribute these harmful images. A 2024 survey by the EdWeek Research Center found that 35% of educators were "somewhat concerned" about the potential misuse of AI-generated content among students, with 16% expressing strong concern.

Trump's signature on the law follows a bipartisan push, supported by Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar. The legislation passed both chambers of Congress with broad support. As quoted by EducationWeek, Melania Trump also emphasized the importance of the law in her remarks, stating, "This is a tool that will give schools the power to protect their students and prevent future harm."

Empowering schools with new tools
The law provides schools with the necessary framework to deal with deepfake-related incidents and ensures that platforms like Snapchat and Instagram are held accountable for promptly removing such content. School leaders, such as Jason Alleman, principal of Laguna Beach High School in California, have expressed optimism that the new law will help curb this issue. "We need to not only penalize offenders but also provide support and education to prevent these incidents from happening in the first place," Alleman told EducationWeek.

A 2024 student survey by the Center for Democracy and Technology found that 1 in 4 students knew someone who had been depicted in non-consensual deepfake imagery. This highlights the importance of the law in ensuring that students have the support and resources they need to navigate such traumatic experiences.

Moving forward with new responsibilities
The "Take It Down Act" is not just a tool for penalizing offenders but also serves as a call for schools to rethink their policies. According to EducationWeek, schools across the nation are now re-evaluating their technology policies to include guidelines on the ethical use of AI. "The prevention, the education, it all has to start in schools," said Dorota Mani, a parent advocate whose daughter was targeted by deepfakes. Schools are now better equipped to handle these incidents, ensuring that victims receive the necessary support while also educating students on responsible technology use.

As the law is implemented, its success will largely depend on how well schools integrate these new regulations into their existing frameworks, ensuring both prevention and protection.