WASHINGTON, D.C., March 26, 2025
The End Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children (OSEAC) Coalition is proud to endorse the Take It Down Act (S.146). This critical piece of legislation represents a significant step forward in our collective efforts to protect children from the pervasive and harmful impacts of online sexual exploitation and abuse.
The creation of the Internet is one of society’s greatest advancements. But with that great power, came very little in the way of protections. At Child Rescue Coalition, we fight to protect victims every day, giving law enforcement the tools to rid the world of online exploitation. When individuals, especially children, are victimized online, there needs to be tools to rectify that. The Take It Down Act is a great step in giving protection back to the victims. – Child Rescue Coalition
The Take It Down Act, introduced by Senators Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar, aims to combat the spread of non-consensual intimate visual depictions, including deepfakes, by requiring covered platforms to promptly remove such content. This bill not only addresses the immediate need to protect victims from further harm but also sets a precedent for holding platforms accountable for the content they host.
The creation and distribution of AI-generated sexually exploitative images is causing very real harm to survivors, including the many children who have already been impacted. We applaud Senators Cruz and Klobuchar for their leadership on the Take it Down Act, which will not only help prevent this new technology from being manipulated to facilitate and perpetuate this growing form of sexual abuse of children online but also ensure the swift takedown of these abusive images from online platforms. We appreciate their rapid focus and action on this critical issue. – ChildFund International
As an advocacy coalition dedicated to improving U.S. government policies and programs to prevent and address the online sexual exploitation and abuse of children, we believe that the Take It Down Act aligns with our mission. The Act’s provisions for criminalizing the intentional disclosure of non-consensual intimate visual depictions and its emphasis on consent and digital forgery are crucial steps in safeguarding the digital lives of our children.
Thorn celebrates the Senate’s passage of the Take It Down Act and is grateful to Senator Cruz and Senator Klobuchar for their leadership in advancing this critical legislation. By closing a key legal gap, this bill criminalizes the knowing distribution of intimate visual depictions of minors—whether real or AI-generated—when shared with intent to harm, harass, or exploit. Importantly, it also extends penalties to threats of disclosure used for intimidation or coercion, providing stronger protections for child victims. This legislation represents an important step toward our collective ability to keep pace with evolving threats and ensure that those who exploit children online are held accountable. – Thorn
We are encouraged by the broad bipartisan support for the legislation and the collective commitment to safeguarding children in the digital age. We were heartened to see that earlier this month, first lady Melania Trump hosted a roundtable discussion at the White House to promote the Take It Down Act focused on the urgent need to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.
We urge Congress to pass the Take It Down Act swiftly and to continue prioritizing the safety and well-being of children in the digital age. Together, we can create a safer online environment where children are protected from exploitation and abuse.
Sincerely,
Coco Lammers
Chair, End OSEAC Coalition
About the End OSEAC Coalition
The End Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children (OSEAC) Coalition is a U.S. advocacy coalition that aims to improve U.S. government policies and programs to better prevent and address online sexual exploitation and abuse of children and provide appropriate support to survivors. Learn more about our mission to #ProtectKidsOnline: endoseac.org.
