- Take It Down Act passed Senate with bipartisan support in February 2024
- Melania Trump's first solo public appearance since resuming First Lady role
- Legislation creates 24-hour federal mandate for intimate content removal
- Roundtable includes survivors and tech safety advocates
Former First Lady Melania Trump made her most significant policy intervention since leaving the White House during Monday's Capitol Hill roundtable on digital privacy. The Take It Down Act, co-sponsored by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), proposes strict new requirements for social platforms to remove non-consensual intimate imagery within 24 hours of reporting. Industry analysts note this 67% faster removal mandate than current voluntary industry standards could dramatically reduce lasting harm to victims.
California's 2013 revenge porn law provides a critical regional case study. While state prosecutions increased 142% between 2015-2022 according to UCLA research, federal coordination remains fragmented. The proposed legislation would establish a national reporting database and empower the FTC to fine platforms up to $50,000 per unaddressed case after the grace period.
Cybersecurity firm DarkTrace reports a 38% annual increase in AI-generated intimate deepfakes since 2022, complicating enforcement efforts. Melania Trump emphasized this emerging threat during discussions, drawing parallels to her Be Best initiative's focus on youth cyber safety. 'The digital landscape evolves, but human dignity remains constant,' she stated in prepared remarks obtained by NBC News.
Notably absent from recent First Lady initiatives, the Trump administration's renewed focus comes as 72% of Americans support stronger federal action against revenge porn according to Pew Research. Legal experts warn the bill's House passage remains uncertain despite Senate approval, with some Republicans expressing concerns about Section 230 implications and states' rights.
Tuesday's presidential address to Congress could provide further momentum, with insiders suggesting the administration sees digital privacy as a unifying election-year issue. As Melania Trump prepares for her second Capitol appearance in 48 hours, advocates hope her involvement bridges partisan divides on this deeply personal issue affecting 1 in 12 Americans annually.