Melania Trump urges Congress to act on deepfake porn

WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — First lady Melania Trump pushed for legislation to protect Americans from AI-generated "deepfakes" and revenge pornography in her first solo public event since returning to the White House.

As a mother, she told lawmakers Monday she's deeply concerned by the rise of deepfakes.

“The widespread presence of abusive behavior in the digital domain affects the daily lives of our children, families and communities,” she said Monday during a roundtable discussion on Capitol Hill. “It's heartbreaking to witness young teens, especially girls, grappling with the overwhelming challenges posed by malicious online content, like deepfakes.”

Deepfakes — which are deceptive videos, images or audio recordings powered by artificial intelligence — have proliferated online. A study by Security Hero in 2023 found that 98% of deepfake videos circulating online were pornographic, and 99% of those targeted were women or girls.

More than a month into her second tenure as first lady, Trump joined half a dozen lawmakers — including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas — to discuss the Take It Down Act.

The bipartisan bill, introduced by Cruz and Democratic Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, would criminalize the “publication of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including AI-generated NCII (or ‘deepfake revenge pornography’)” and would require social media and other websites to “place procedures to remove NCII, pursuant to a valid request from a victim,” according to the press release.

If the legislation were to pass, social media platforms and other websites would be required to remove deepfake pornography of children within 48 hours of being notified by the victim.

The first lady admitted Monday that she had hoped to see more visible Democratic support for the bill.

“I expected to see more Democrat leaders with us here today to address this serious issue. Surely as adults, we can prioritize American children ahead of partisan politics,” she said. “I urge Congress to prioritize the passage of the Take It Down Act. This legislation is essential for addressing the growing concerns related to online safety, protecting individual rights, and promoting a healthier digital environment.”

Trump has vowed to expand her commitment to her “Be Best” campaign, which aims to teach children online safety.

The East Wing said Melania Trump will travel back to Capitol Hill tomorrow for President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress. She has invited Elliston Berry, a Texas high school student who was a victim of deepfake revenge porn, to watch the address with her from the first lady's viewing box.