The TAKE IT DOWN Act: How to Request a Removal

What the TAKE IT DOWN Act is

The TAKE IT DOWN Act (Public Law 119-12, signed in May 2025) is a federal statute that addresses non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including realistic AI-generated images.

• It criminalizes the non-consensual publication of intimate images, including AI-generated ones.
• It requires covered platformsto provide a clear process to request removal, and to remove a reported image — and make reasonable efforts to remove copies — within 48 hours of a valid request.
• It is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which can treat a platform’s failure to comply as an unfair or deceptive practice.

FaceSentry is an independent compliance tool that helps individuals exercise their rights under this law. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an official agent of the FTC or any government agency.

Who and what it covers

• Who:a person shown in an intimate image that was published without their consent (or their authorized representative). Different rules and dedicated reporting channels apply when the person is a minor — see below.
• What content: intimate visual depictions shared without consent, including digital forgeries— realistic AI-generated or edited images that appear to depict a real, identifiable person.
• Where:“covered platforms” that serve the public and host user-generated content. Purely private messaging and some other services may be treated differently.

How to send a removal request

The exact form differs by platform, but a valid request generally includes a few common elements. Gather these before you start.

• Find the platform’s NCII / removal process.Covered platforms are required to provide one — look in Help, Safety, or Privacy for “non-consensual intimate images,” “intimate image removal,” or a TAKE IT DOWN reporting form.
• Identify yourself as the person depicted (or an authorized representative) and provide a way to contact you.
• Identify the content with the specific link(s) / URL(s) and enough detail for the platform to locate it.
• State that it is non-consensual— a good-faith statement that the intimate image was published without your consent. If it is a digital forgery, say so.
• Submit and keep the record. Save the confirmation or reference number and the date you filed, so you can track the 48-hour window and follow up.

Before you submit, preserve evidence (screenshots and URLs) — see your first 24 hours. Tools like FaceSentry can help you prepare a request and trackthe platform’s response and removal deadline in one place.

If a platform doesn’t comply

• Re-check your request— make sure it went to the correct removal channel and included the required details.
• Keep your records of when you filed and what response (if any) you received.
• Report non-compliance to the FTC at takeitdown.ftc.gov, since the FTC enforces the platform-removal requirement.
• Consider legal advice. An attorney can explain remedies that may be available and how other laws in your state may also apply.

Related options and special cases

• DMCA notice.If you took the original photo (and so hold the copyright), a DMCA takedown under 17 U.S.C. §512 is a separate route that can work alongside a TAKE IT DOWN Act request.
• Proactive hash-blocking. For adults, StopNCII.orglets you create an on-device hash so participating platforms can block matching uploads; for minors, use NCMEC’s Take It Down.
• If the person depicted is under 18, use NCMEC’s CyberTipline and Take It Down rather than a general adult NCII channel.

This page summarizes the law in plain terms and is general information, not legal advice. Statutes and platform processes change over time; for advice about your situation, consult a qualified attorney. See also removing intimate images from search and platforms.