Federal baseline: the TAKE IT DOWN Act (Public Law 119-12, signed May 19, 2025):

  • Criminalizes knowingly publishing nonconsensual intimate imagery, explicitly including AI "digital forgeries."
  • Up to 2 years imprisonment for adult victims, 3 years where minors are depicted.
  • Platforms must remove flagged content within 48 hours of a valid request. FTC enforcement began May 19, 2026.
  • First federal conviction came in April 2026: an Ohio man generating imagery of neighbors.

State laws stack on top. Virginia criminalized it back in 2019. California and New York have their own criminal and civil provisions, with penalties from misdemeanors to felonies depending on intent and distribution. Sources: Congress.gov, NCSL If you run a platform or publish AI content, a one-time compliance check beats a criminal defense. ComplyAI audits your exposure across jurisdictions for $2.99 one-time per check.