Rep. Debbie Dingell on Combating Deepfake Harassment with the Take It Down Act

The Threat of Online Harassment and Violence

• ⚠️ Rep. Debbie Dingell expresses horror at the normalization of violence and death threats, emphasizing that members of Congress on both sides of the aisle care deeply about these issues.
• 💔 She shares a personal connection to the pain caused by loss, highlighting the urgency to pass legislation that addresses online harms.

The Take It Down Act and FTC Enforcement

• 🏛️ Dingell is proud to co-lead the bipartisan Take It Down Act, which recently passed the Senate unanimously and was intended for inclusion in the end-of-year budget bill.
• 🚫 She criticizes the recent firing of FTC Commissioners, calling it unconstitutional and a political motivation that undermines the agency's independence.
• ❓ Without a functioning FTC, Dingell questions how the Take It Down Act can be enforced if it becomes law, urging colleagues to stop the politics and get it done.

Deepfake Harassment and Vulnerable Victims

• 🎯 As technology advances, new forms of abuse emerge, primarily targeting women and children.
• 🖼️ Deepfake pornography is identified as a tool for harassment, humiliation, and intimidation, particularly against women who speak out.
• ✅ The Take It Down Act aims to provide victims with a path to justice, ensure the removal of harmful images, and hold perpetrators accountable.

Strengthening Online Protections

• 🤝 Dingell stresses the importance of working with all stakeholders to pass the strongest possible bill and ensure there is a body capable of enforcing it.
• 🛡️ She states that protecting people from growing online harms is one of Congress's most important jobs, and the situation is worsening daily.
• ❓ When asked if the FTC's current authority is sufficient to enforce the Take It Down Act without a fully independent FTC, Commissioner Slaughter indicates a commitment to faithfully administer laws passed by Congress and inform Congress if more is needed.
• 🙏 Dingell concludes by pledging to work together to get these bills done, acknowledging the children present and their potential to make a difference.