Teen Advocate Elliston Berry on Fighting Deepfake Porn and New Legislation

The Deepfake Epidemic and Its Impact

• 💡 At 14, Elliston Berry discovered a deepfake nude image of herself circulated at school, highlighting the severe impact of non-consensual explicit imagery.
• ⚠️ One in eight teens have reported knowing someone targeted by deepfakes, a surge largely driven by the explosion of AI.
• 🚫 Platforms like Elon Musk's Gro previously allowed users to upload and undress individuals, contributing to the problem.

Legislative Victories and Ongoing Efforts

• 🏛️ Elliston Berry partnered with Senator Ted Cruz to pass the Take It Down Act, making the creation of explicit deepfakes a felony and requiring platforms to remove them within 48 hours.
• ✅ The Take It Down Act was signed into law by President Trump, providing a crucial legal recourse for victims.
• ⚖️ The Defiance Act, which would allow victims to sue over explicit deepfakes, has passed the Senate and is awaiting House passage, with support from figures like Paris Hilton.

Advice and Support for Victims

• 💖 Elliston emphasizes to young women targeted by deepfakes that it is not their fault and their feelings of isolation or shame do not define them.
• 🚓 She strongly encourages victims to file a police report, as the Take It Down Act establishes creation and publication as felonies.
• 🗣️ Berry has also created a training program to educate the public about the deepfake epidemic, aiming to raise awareness and encourage faster repercussions.

Parental and Societal Response

• 😮 Ana McAdams, Elliston's mother, expressed initial shock and a feeling of helplessness due to the lack of existing protections for victims.
• 🚀 The family's decision to step up and advocate for change was driven by the absence of support from schools and local police.
• 🤝 The bipartisan nature of these legislative efforts, like the Take It Down Act, underscores a growing consensus on the seriousness of the issue.