The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued warning letters to major technology companies, reminding them of a May 19 deadline to comply with the Take It Down Act. The law requires covered platforms to remove non-consensual intimate images and videos within 48 hours of receiving a valid request.

Warning Letters Sent to Tech Giants

The FTC has sent warning letters to over a dozen prominent tech companies, including Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, Automattic, Bumble, Discord, Match Group, Meta, Microsoft, Pinterest, Reddit, SmugMug, Snapchat, TikTok, and X. The letters outline the law's definitions, compliance obligations, and penalties for violations.

The Take It Down Act was signed into law on May 19, 2025, and is designed to combat non-consensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated deepfakes. The law creates a federal criminal prohibition on the publication of such images and requires platforms to remove them within 48 hours of initial notice.

Compliance Obligations

Covered platforms must establish a clear removal process for victims, including children, whose intimate photos or videos were shared without consent. This includes providing a mechanism for victims to submit takedown requests and removing the reported content, along with identical copies, within 48 hours after receiving a valid request.

The law applies broadly to online services such as social media, messaging, image and video sharing, and gaming platforms. Platforms must provide clear and conspicuous notice of a removal process for victims, including children, whose intimate photos or videos were shared without consent.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

The FTC has stated that notice-and-removal violations of the act are viewed as violations of FTC rules. Such violations will receive civil penalties of $53,088 per violation. The agency is prepared to monitor compliance, investigate violations, and enforce the law.

Key Facts

  • The Take It Down Act requires covered platforms to remove non-consensual intimate images and videos within 48 hours of receiving a valid request.
  • Covered platforms include social media, messaging, image and video sharing, and gaming platforms.
  • Platforms must provide clear and conspicuous notice of a removal process for victims, including children, whose intimate photos or videos were shared without consent.
  • The law applies broadly to online services that host or distribute user-generated content.
  • Civil penalties for non-compliance will be $53,088 per violation.