For years the main tool creators had was copyright. Since May there is another one in the US: the Take It Down Act, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.
48hRemoval deadlineAfter a valid request.
19 MayEnforced since2026.
$53,088Per violationMaximum civil penalty.
15Platforms written toBy the FTC Chairman.
What the law requires
- Covered platforms must have a clear way to request removal of intimate images shared without consent.
- They must remove the reported image, and known identical copies, within 48 hours of a valid request.
- It covers real images and “digital forgeries”: images made or changed with software, apps or AI.
People can complain about platforms that ignore valid requests, or have no removal process, at TakeItDown.ftc.gov.
What the FTC has done so far
FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson: “Platforms no longer have any excuses” and must comply “or face the consequences.” We have not seen a completed enforcement case yet.
How creators can use it
- 01Use the platform’s intimate image formReddit, Discord, Google and others now have Take It Down Act forms. Our removal guides link to the real ones.
- 02Keep using copyright tooWhether the Act reaches content you sold yourself and that was then leaked is not settled. Reddit, for one, sends creators reporting leaks of paid content to its copyright form.
- 03Report deepfakes this wayAI-made intimate images of you are covered. Copyright often is not, because you did not create the fake.
- 04Keep the confirmationsSave each request and its time. If a platform misses 48 hours, report it at TakeItDown.ftc.gov.
It is a US lawIt applies to platforms covered by US law. Leak sites hosted elsewhere may ignore it, so notices to hosts and search delisting still matter.
Sources
SOURCES01FTC · FTC begins enforcing the Take It Down Act (May 2026)02FTC · FTC sends warning letters to companies about compliance with the Take It Down Act (May 2026)03FTC Business Blog · Take It Down Act enforcement starts now: what to know (May 2026)
FAQ
Does the Take It Down Act cover leaked OnlyFans content?It covers intimate images shared without consent. Whether it reaches content you sold and that was later leaked is not settled, so keep sending copyright notices as well.
Does it cover AI deepfakes?Yes. The law covers “digital forgeries”, images made or altered with software, apps or AI.
What if a platform ignores my request?Keep your request and its time. If the platform does not act within 48 hours, or has no removal process, report it at TakeItDown.ftc.gov.
Related searches
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Written by the Lock Leaks TeamBased on the FTC’s announcements, listed in Sources. This is not legal advice.
