Understanding the TAKE IT DOWN Act

The TAKE IT DOWN Act gives people a removal process for intimate images shared without consent, including qualifying digital forgeries. Its platform notice-and-removal requirements took effect on May 19, 2026. A legal deadline is useful leverage, but it should not be confused with a removal company's guaranteed result.

What does the 48-hour requirement mean?

Under Section 3, a covered platform receiving a valid request must remove the reported content and make reasonable efforts to identify and remove known identical copies within 48 hours. The FTC explains which services are covered and what they must do.

The rule does not mean every website, search engine, hosting company, and other business has the same obligations. Whether a particular service is a covered platform depends on the statutory definition and facts. The Act also creates criminal offenses with their own requirements; a removal request and a criminal prosecution are separate processes.

What does a valid request contain?

The law calls for a physical or electronic signature; enough information to locate the depiction; a brief statement of good-faith belief that publication was not consensual; and contact information so the platform can respond. A depicted person or an authorized representative may submit a request, which is how we file for the people we work with.

A request needs the specific links. You should not need to create a new account simply to be entitled to the Act's protections. Do not download or forward sexual imagery involving a minor.

What if the platform does not comply?

The FTC enforces the platform requirements and accepts complaints about covered platforms that lack a removal process or fail to act on valid requests. When a platform ignores a request we filed, a complaint to the FTC is part of our follow-up. A complaint is not an individual court order or proof that the images are gone.

If someone is threatening you, contact law enforcement or a trusted support organization. For content involving someone under 18, use NCMEC's CyberTipline and Take It Down. NCMEC's service and the FTC's reporting portal serve different purposes despite the similar names.

Is this the same as DMCA?

No. DMCA takedown notices concern copyright and are available to a copyright owner or authorized agent. An intimate-image request concerns publication without the depicted person's consent. You may have an intimate-image reporting option even when someone else took the photograph. Read the Copyright Office explanation for the copyright route.

Can search results remain after a report?

Yes. The website, search index, and copies on other platforms are separate. Google and Bing can remove qualifying results under their own policies, and we file those requests for the links in a case. Search delisting and source removal are separate outcomes.

How can IntimaShield help?

We review your known links, file appropriate requests as your authorized agent, follow up, and pursue applicable escalation. Your private case record shows actions and responses. Emergency removal starts at $499 one-time; you review the scope and price before paying. We do not promise universal compliance or provide legal representation.

For the exact legal text, see Public Law 119-12.