House Passes Take It Down Act, 5 Other Tech and Telecom Bills
The House voted 409-2 Monday night to approve the Senate-passed Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act (S-146), which President Donald Trump is likely to sign into law. In addition, the House cleared five other tech and telecom bills Monday night on voice votes: the Removing Our Unsecure Technologies to Ensure Reliability and Security Act (HR-866), Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act (HR-906), Rural Broadband Protection Act (HR-2399), Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhanced Networks Act (HR-2449) and the Secure Space Act (HR-2458). The chamber earlier Monday passed two other measures (see 2504280055): the Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act (HR-2480) and NTIA Reauthorization Act (HR-2482).
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S-146's lead sponsor, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, hailed House approval of the measure, which would establish criminal liability for individuals and entities publishing nonconsensual intimate imagery, including AI-created deepfake porn. Its passage “is a historic win in the fight to protect victims of revenge porn and deepfake abuse,” Cruz said. “By requiring social media companies to take down this abusive content quickly, we are sparing victims from repeated trauma and holding predators accountable.”
House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Doris Matsui, D-Calif., emphasized passage of her HR-2449, which would direct the FCC to establish a 6G task force to recommend how to ensure U.S. leadership in developing that technology’s standards. It “ensures our brightest minds in industry, government, and academia are collaborating on this vital mission to accelerate U.S. leadership in next-generation communications,” she said.
Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, highlighted passage of his HR-866 and HR-2482. HR-866 would direct the Commerce Department to “specify what transactions involving routers, modems, or devices that combine a modem and a router are prohibited” under Trump’s 2019 executive order. HR-2482 would renew NTIA’s mandate through the end of FY 2026 and elevate the agency administrator to a commerce undersecretary level. Both measures “are critical pieces of legislation for securing our communications infrastructure and improving America’s economic competitiveness,” Latta said in a statement.