FTC Warns Tech Firms Over Take It Down Act Compliance
Summary
The FTC warned major tech firms that they are not complying with the Take It Down Act, which requires removal of nonconsensual intimate images within 48 hours of a request. It urged simple reporting tools and hashing to remove duplicates.
Key points
- The FTC says the companies it contacted are not complying with the Take It Down Act, which began being enforced Tuesday.
- The law requires covered platforms to provide an easy process for removal requests and remove nonconsensual intimate images within 48 hours.
- The FTC urged platforms to use hashing to identify and remove duplicate images.
- The agency recommended sharing hashes involving minors with NCMEC and those involving adults with StopNCII[.]org.
- The letters also urged clear notices, simple removal requests, and identifying numbers so victims can track requests.
- The FTC warned that violations could result in fines of up to $53,088 per violation.
Article Details
- Event Type
- FTC regulatory compliance warning under the Take It Down Act
- Impact
- The FTC warned named technology companies that they are not complying with the law's requirements for an easy process to request removal of nonconsensual intimate images and removal within 48 hours. The agency said violations could result in fines of up to $53,088 per violation. It also urged companies to use hashing to remove duplicates and share hashes with relevant organizations.
People
Vendors
AlphabetThe agency said companies like Alphabet, Meta, X, and TikTok must urgently add removal tools, use hashing to eliminate duplicates, and coordinate with groups such as NCMEC and StopNCII.org.Amazon#TakeItDownActApple#TakeItDownActAutomatticAgency chairman Andrew Ferguson sent the letters to Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Automattic, Bumble, Discord, Match Group, Meta, Microsoft, Pinterest, Reddit, SmugMug, Snapchat, TikTok and X last week.BumbleAgency chairman Andrew Ferguson sent the letters to Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Automattic, Bumble, Discord, Match Group, Meta, Microsoft, Pinterest, Reddit, SmugMug, Snapchat, TikTok and X last week.DiscordAgency chairman Andrew Ferguson sent the letters to Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Automattic, Bumble, Discord, Match Group, Meta, Microsoft, Pinterest, Reddit, SmugMug, Snapchat, TikTok and X last week.Match GroupAgency chairman Andrew Ferguson sent the letters to Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Automattic, Bumble, Discord, Match Group, Meta, Microsoft, Pinterest, Reddit, SmugMug, Snapchat, TikTok and X last week.MetaThe agency said companies like Alphabet, Meta, X, and TikTok must urgently add removal tools, use hashing to eliminate duplicates, and coordinate with groups such as NCMEC and StopNCII.org.Microsoft#TakeItDownActPinterestAgency chairman Andrew Ferguson sent the letters to Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Automattic, Bumble, Discord, Match Group, Meta, Microsoft, Pinterest, Reddit, SmugMug, Snapchat, TikTok and X last week.RedditAgency chairman Andrew Ferguson sent the letters to Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Automattic, Bumble, Discord, Match Group, Meta, Microsoft, Pinterest, Reddit, SmugMug, Snapchat, TikTok and X last week.SmugMugAgency chairman Andrew Ferguson sent the letters to Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Automattic, Bumble, Discord, Match Group, Meta, Microsoft, Pinterest, Reddit, SmugMug, Snapchat, TikTok and X last week.SnapchatAgency chairman Andrew Ferguson sent the letters to Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Automattic, Bumble, Discord, Match Group, Meta, Microsoft, Pinterest, Reddit, SmugMug, Snapchat, TikTok and X last week.TikTokThe agency said companies like Alphabet, Meta, X, and TikTok must urgently add removal tools, use hashing to eliminate duplicates, and coordinate with groups such as NCMEC and StopNCII.org.XThe agency said companies like Alphabet, Meta, X, and TikTok must urgently add removal tools, use hashing to eliminate duplicates, and coordinate with groups such as NCMEC and StopNCII.org.