How to Use the Take It Down Act (2026): Your Complete Guide

The TAKE IT DOWN Act (Pub. L. 119-12, codified at 47 U.S.C. § 223a) was signed into law on April 28, 2026, marking the most significant federal legislation protecting victims of non-consensual intimate image (NCII) sharing in U.S. history.

What Is the TAKE IT DOWN Act?

The TAKE IT DOWN Act stands for Taking Action to Knowingly Eliminate Images That Degrade and Oppress Women. It creates a federal mandate requiring online platforms to remove non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes, within 48 hours of receiving a valid removal request.

Who Is Protected?

The Act protects any "Identifiable Individual", meaning anyone whose intimate visual depictions are shared without their explicit consent. This includes:

Real photographs taken with or without consent but shared without consent
AI-generated or deepfake images depicting you without consent
Images originally shared consensually but redistributed without consent

Your Rights Under 47 U.S.C. § 223a

48-Hour Removal Window: Platforms must remove reported content within 48 hours of receiving your notice.
No Cost: You have the right to submit removal requests at no charge.
Platform Accountability: Failure to comply exposes platforms to significant civil and criminal liability.
Re-upload Prevention: Platforms must make reasonable efforts to prevent the same content from being re-uploaded.

How to Submit a Removal Request

Step 1: Identify the Content

Locate the specific URLs where your images appear. Screenshot the page for your records.

Step 2: Find the Platform's Abuse Contact

Every major platform maintains an abuse or privacy email. For smaller sites, look for:

abuse@[domain]
privacy@[domain]
dmca@[domain]

Step 3: Draft Your Legal Notice

Your notice must include:

Your identification as the depicted individual
The specific URL(s) of the content
A statement that you did not consent to the posting
Your contact information for compliance notification
A declaration under penalty of perjury

Step 4: Send and Track

Email your notice and note the timestamp. Platforms have exactly 48 hours from receipt to comply. Follow up at the 48-hour mark if you haven't received confirmation.

What Happens If They Don't Comply?

Platforms that fail to remove content within 48 hours may face:

Civil liability with statutory damages of $150,000 per violation
Loss of Section 230 immunity for the specific content
Potential criminal prosecution under related federal statutes

Using ScanErase for Automated Removal

ScanErase automates this entire process, from finding where your images appear across the web to drafting and tracking legally compliant removal notices under the TAKE IT DOWN Act. Our AI engine generates certified legal notices citing 47 U.S.C. § 223a, ensuring platforms cannot claim they were unaware of their obligations.

Start your free scan →