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In the United States, a person targeted by a deepfake can report qualifying nonconsensual intimate content to the platform and request removal under the federal TAKE IT DOWN Act. Since May 19, 2026, covered platforms must provide a request process and remove covered content and known identical copies within 48 hours after a valid request. Victims can also report online publication to the FBI; the FTC accepts complaints about certain platform failures. The Act does not cover every fake video, and a report does not guarantee removal, an investigation, or prosecution.
What can I report?
The right route depends first on what the video depicts and what happened to it. The federal TAKE IT DOWN Act, enacted May 19, 2025, addresses certain nonconsensual intimate visual depictions published through an interactive computer service. It covers authentic images and videos as well as qualifying digital forgeries. It is not a general federal ban on fabricated video.
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| What the video depicts | Federal TAKE IT DOWN Act relevance | Possible next step |
|---|---|---|
| A qualifying nonconsensual intimate depiction, including a qualifying digital forgery | The Act may apply, depending on its definitions, the circumstances, and other statutory elements. | Use the platform’s dedicated nonconsensual intimate imagery route and request removal under its TAKE IT DOWN Act process. |
| A non-intimate political fake, impersonation, or reputationally damaging clip | The Act does not create a general remedy for this type of deepfake just because it is synthetic. | Report it under the platform’s relevant policies. Other federal or state laws may apply; state protections vary. |
What counts as a qualifying digital forgery?
The Act’s definition requires an intimate depiction of an identifiable person, made using software, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or other technological means, that a reasonable person would find indistinguishable from an authentic depiction when viewed as a whole. A video being AI-generated—or being described online as a deepfake—does not by itself establish that it meets this definition.
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The statute sets different requirements for depictions of adults and minors, lists exceptions, and considers matters such as the depicted person’s reasonable expectation of privacy, whether the conduct was voluntarily exposed publicly or commercially, whether the depiction is a matter of public concern, and intent to cause harm or actual harm. It also includes specified good-faith disclosures, including certain reporting, law-enforcement, legal-proceeding, medical, and support disclosures. These details can affect whether the Act applies; a platform removal request is not a court ruling that a crime occurred.
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How to seek removal or report publication
- Report the content to the platform. Find its dedicated nonconsensual intimate imagery reporting route and submit a removal request through its TAKE IT DOWN Act process. Include the specific post or page location and the information the platform asks for. A covered platform must remove content covered by a valid request, along with known identical copies, within 48 hours of receiving that request. The deadline does not promise removal of every repost, altered derivative, or item outside the Act’s scope.
- Complain to the FTC about a platform failure. The Federal Trade Commission says it accepts TAKE IT DOWN Act complaints when a platform has failed to establish a removal-request process or failed to act on a valid request. This is a way to report a platform’s process or compliance failure, not a substitute for submitting the removal request to the platform.
- Report online publication to the FBI. The Department of Justice directs people to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or the FBI tip line, 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), to provide information about nonconsensually published intimate visual depictions online. Provide the post location and relevant details if you can do so safely.
- Consider legal or victim-support help. A qualified lawyer or victim advocate can help assess possible federal civil remedies, state law, safety concerns, and how to handle evidence. The facts, the person’s age, the content, and the conduct may all affect available options.
The FTC described its complaint process and the platform requirements when it began enforcing the Act on May 19, 2026. DOJ has also announced enforcement activity under the law. For example, in a June 12, 2026 announcement, DOJ said a federal judge found probable cause to believe certain seized domains were being used to commit federal criminal violations involving digitally forged nude images and videos. An enforcement announcement or probable-cause finding is not a finding that every deepfake post violates the Act, nor is it proof of guilt in a particular case.
What evidence should I save?
The steps below are practical recordkeeping suggestions, not a universal legal requirement or forensic protocol. Save enough context to identify what you saw and where, without spreading the material further.
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- Record where and when you found it: the platform, account or channel name, page or post URL, visible post identifier, and the date and time you observed it. Note the time zone if you know it.
- Preserve the surrounding context: where safe and lawful, take screenshots or a screen recording that show the post and relevant surrounding page details. Keep the original URL. Avoid editing the original material.
- Keep report records: save the platform’s report confirmation, case or ticket number, messages about the request, and any response or removal notice.
- Save related communications: preserve relevant messages, threats, demands, and communications with the person or platform, including dates and account identifiers.
- Make a short timeline: note when you found the video, when you reported it, any changes or removals you observed, and who else saw it. Record potential witnesses and how to contact them if appropriate.
- Do not amplify the video: avoid publicly reposting or forwarding it to prove it exists. If there is an immediate safety risk, extortion, or threat, ask law enforcement or a qualified advocate how to handle the material safely.
If the content may depict a minor in sexual conduct
Do not download or forward the material. Use official platform and law-enforcement reporting channels, and follow their instructions for reporting it. If you are unsure how to proceed, seek help from law enforcement or a qualified victim advocate rather than circulating a copy.
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Possibly. DOJ explains that a federal civil provision added by the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 can allow a person to sue someone who shared qualifying intimate images without consent, including through the internet or social media. Depending on the case, possible relief can include an injunction, compensation for financial losses or statutory monetary relief, and attorney’s fees and costs. A plaintiff may ask the court to permit use of a pseudonym. The provision has defined limits and good-faith exceptions, so eligibility depends on the facts; consult a lawyer about a specific claim.
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Consent to creating or sharing an image privately is not the same as consent to publishing it. DOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women puts it this way: “Even if you agreed to have your image taken or you took an intimate image of yourself and sent it to someone, it does not mean that you agreed to the images or videos being shared with others.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How state law fits in
State laws may provide additional criminal, civil, privacy, harassment, or other remedies, but rules differ by state. Whether a state law covers an AI-generated intimate depiction, what intent or harm it requires, and how a person can seek relief are jurisdiction-specific questions. The federal TAKE IT DOWN Act should not be treated as a complete account of a victim’s legal options. For a real case, contact a lawyer familiar with the relevant state or a victim-support organization.
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