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The United States President Signs Take It Down Act into Law | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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The United States President Signs Take It Down Act into Law

Posted 20 May 2025

2 min read

The Take It Down Act criminalises non-consensual sharing of intimate images, including AI deepfakes, and requires platforms to remove such content within 48 hours.

  • Victims of explicit deepfakes will now be able to take legal action against people who create them.

About Deepfakes

  • Definition: They’re synthetic media (videos, audio, or images) generated using deep learning algorithms to create realistic digital media. The term combines "deep learning" & "fake" (manipulate a person's face, voice, etc.)
    • Deep learning: A subset of machine learning that uses multilayered neural networks to simulate the complex decision-making power of the human brain.

Threats Posed by Deepfakes

  • Deepfakes can be used to impersonate executives, tricking companies into transferring funds.
  • Create fake videos of political leaders to spread misinformation.
    • E.g., In Gabon, a deepfake video of the president raised suspicions of a coup.
  • Proliferation of deepfakes erodes trust in Media & create doubt about the authenticity of legitimate video content, thereby, weakening public trust.

How to Determine if Something Is a Deepfake?

  • Facial Inconsistencies: Deepfakes often struggle with certain facial expressions, lighting, and micro-movements.
  • For instance, the eyes in a deepfake video may not blink naturally.
  • Unnatural Movements: They sometimes exhibit awkward movement. E.g., jerky head turns.
  • Distortions: They often show blurring, especially during fast movements. 

Initiatives to Tackle Deepfakes

  • Legal Provisions under The Information Technology Act, 2000
    • Section 66E: Penalizes capture or transmission of images violating privacy.
    • Section 66D: Punishes impersonation or cheating using digital means.
    • Sections 67, 67A, 67B: Address obscene or sexually explicit deepfake content.
  • Regulatory Measures: An online platform will assist victims in filing FIRs for deepfake crimes.
  • Platform Accountability: Social media platforms are advised under Section 66D to remove deepfakes promptly or risk losing legal protections.
  • Tags :
  • Deepfakes
  • Take It Down Act
  • The Information Technology Act, 2000
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