Cruz, Klobuchar TAKE IT DOWN Act Leads to Conviction in Case Targeting AI-Generated Deepfakes

This press release from Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) was published on 2026-04-21 and titled "Cruz, Klobuchar TAKE IT DOWN Act Leads to Conviction in Case Targeting AI-Generated Deepfakes". It focuses on taxes and touches on foreign policy, technology.

Cruz, Klobuchar TAKE IT DOWN Act Leads to Conviction in Case Targeting AI-Generated Deepfakes WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) highlighted the first conviction under their bipartisan TAKE IT DOWN Act following the guilty plea of an Ohio man who used artificial intelligence to create and distribute non-consensual intimate images. "The Take It Down Act, which I authored with Senator Klobuchar, is instrumental in ensuring that predators who weaponize new technology to post exploitative filth will rightfully face criminal consequences," said Cruz. "Because of our work to make it the law of the land, Big Tech can no longer turn a blind eye to the spread of this vile material. I am thrilled to see our legislation in action with this first conviction. Let it be known that individuals who commit these acts will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." "Last year, we passed our major bipartisan legislation to take on the brutal sharing of nonconsensual sexual images, real or deepfake. Kids tragically commit suicide over the sharing of these images, and we knew we had to act," said Klobuchar. "Now we have some good news: the first conviction under this law was secured of an Ohio man who victimized multiple people with his creation of pornographic deepfakes online. This conviction sends a clear message - perpetrators of these heinous crimes will be held accountable." The bipartisan TAKE IT DOWN Act criminalizes the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including AI-generated NCII, and requires online platforms to implement procedures to remove such content within 48 hours of notice from a victim or their representative. Klobuchar and Cruz introduced and passed the legislation which was supported by First Lady Melania Trump and signed into law by President Trump in May 2025. ###