President Donald Trump signed the Take It Down Act into law on Monday, marking the first federal legislation aimed at curbing the spread of nonconsensual explicit imagery online, including deepfakes and revenge porn.

The bipartisan measure imposes stricter penalties on individuals who distribute sexually explicit content without the subject’s consent, whether real or AI-generated. Offenders could face criminal charges, including fines, imprisonment, and orders to pay restitution to victims.

“This will be the first-ever federal law to combat the distribution of explicit imagery posted without subjects’ consent,” Trump said during a White House signing ceremony. “We will not tolerate online sexual exploitation.”

The new law also mandates that online platforms and social media companies remove such content within 48 hours of receiving notice from a victim. They are further required to delete duplicates of the offending material to prevent further harm.

While many U.S. states already have laws banning revenge porn and sexually explicit deepfakes, the Take It Down Act marks the first time the federal government has moved to regulate online platforms in this area.

First Lady Melania Trump, a vocal advocate for online safety, championed the bill. It was co-sponsored by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). Cruz said he was moved to act after hearing about a 14-year-old girl whose AI-generated deepfake image remained online for nearly a year despite repeated pleas to have it removed.

Digital rights and free speech groups have expressed concern over the law’s potential overreach. Some warn that its broad language could lead to the censorship of lawful content, including consensual adult material and criticism of public officials.

Despite the concerns, supporters argue the law fills a critical gap in protecting individuals, particularly minors and women, from digital exploitation and abuse in the age of generative AI.