Latest news with #TakeitDownAct
Euronews
16 hours ago
- Business
- Euronews
Adult content creators warn new Swedish law ‘takes away safest option'
A new law in Sweden that makes it illegal to buy custom adult content will take effect on July 1. But the content creators say it makes their profession more dangerous. The new updated legislation makes it so anyone who purchases online sexual content (sexual acts performed remotely with no ty physical contact) or operates a website that makes it easier to get in touch with adult content creators could be imprisoned for up to one year. Sweden's updated laws are the latest in a series of restrictions to digital porn, like France's age verification law that saw Pornhub temporarily stop operations there, the US' Take it Down Act or the EU's directive to ban sexual deepfakes by 2027. 'The idea is that anyone who buys sexual acts performed remotely should be penalised in the same way as those who buy sexual acts involving physical contact,' Gunnar Strommer, Sweden's Justice Minister, told the newspaper Svenska Dagbladet. Swedish adult content creators told Euronews Next that the government should reconsider the new law because it could push some of them to more unsafe types of content creation. 'This is just the beginning' Amanda Breden is a Swedish online adult content creator who's been using online platforms such as OnlyFans for her business, amassing roughly 33,000 followers over the last four years there. Her business model includes a subscription-based channel where, for $10 (over r€8) a month, users can get access to a large collection of adult images and photos that she's created. Her second free channel generates income through custom content requests that she gets through direct messages (DMs) from fans. The channel is also something that her husband Max works on, doing the accounting, the payroll and the camerawork. 'The [Swedish] law doesn't just affect me as a creator - it takes away the freedom to do what we want with our own lives,' she told Euronews Next. 'People may not realise that this is just the beginning,.' she added. Euronews Next reached out to OnlyFans and Pornhub, two major online platforms for adult content. Both said they would comply with the laws in Sweden but did not elaborate on how they would. OnlyFans has less than 45 million monthly users in the EU, according to the latest transparency report. Pornhub sees about 26.1 million monthly users in the EU, it's website says. 'OnlyFans can save many women from the streets' The law wouldn't affect Breden too much, she continued, because she has other streams of income, including a hotel and cafe in Sweden. What is a concern for her is if OnlyFans starts 'blocking' Swedish creators 'because they're afraid of being sued or accused of pimping.'. 'I would actually argue that OnlyFans can save many women from the streets and from pimps who try to control them,' Breden said, noting that it lets creators choose the type of content they sell and that they are able to work from home. Emma Larsson, an adult content creator, told the European Sex Workers Rights Alliance (ESWRA) that it would push content creators like herself into more unsafe workplaces. 'Our income will decrease so much that we'll be forced to offer services and fulfil requests we would otherwise never agree to,' she said in a pressrelease. 'This law will push us into dangerous situations and take away our safest option.'. 'A dangerous European precedent' The idea behind Sweden's updated law, according to the government, is to 'strengthen protection against sexual harassment,' fraud against the elderly and crimes with gender as a hate crime motive. Advocates and adult content creators say there's a general misunderstanding of the rules that platforms already have in place to curb dangerous sexual content. OnlyFans says in it's content moderation policy that it uses a combination of human and automated filters to determine which content creators cannot be verified as over 18+, that are generated by artificial intelligence (AI), violent or extreme content, and that consent has been given, among other criteria. 'I've had several videos removed, even though they were just harmless roleplay,' Breden said. 'You're absolutely not allowed to even hint at anything that could be seen as 'forced' or similar.'. Advocacy groups are also concerned about how the laws would be enforced. The European Sex Workers Rights Alliance said there are risks that the police could be empowered to search phones, computers, and online accounts that are linked to the creation of online adult content. That then raises 'serious issues around digital surveillance and privacy, especially for vulnerable groups like sex workers already facing discrimination and criminalisation.'. 'This law would set a dangerous precedent across Europe,' the press release reads. If the government is concerned about safety, Breeden said the company could instead increase the age limit to 25 from 18 to access adult content sites like OnlyFans.
The Hill
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Meta sues developer of ‘nudify' app CrushAI
Meta filed a lawsuit against a developer for allegedly running advertisements to promote its 'nudify' apps which use artificial intelligence to create non-consensual nude or sexually explicit images. The suit accuses Joy TimelineHK Limited, the developer behind CrushAI apps, of violating Meta's rules against non-consensual intimate imagery. Meta noted its policies were updated more than a year ago to further clarify the promotion of nudify apps or related products is not permitted on their platforms. Meta claimed the Hong Kong-based company attempted to 'circumvent' Meta's ad review process and continued to run the ads even after the social media firm removed them. The Hill reached out to Joy TimelineHK Limited for comment. 'This legal action underscores both the seriousness with which we take this abuse and our commitment to doing all we can to protect our community from it,' Meta wrote in a release Thursday. The Facebook and Instagram parent company touted how it removes these types of ads once its teams are made aware. Meta also blocks links to websites and restricts search terms like 'nudify,' 'delete clothing,' or 'undress.' The lawsuit is part of Meta's broader fight against nudify apps. In addition the work on its own platforms, the technology firm said has started sharing links for violating apps with other tech companies, proviing more than 3,800 links since the end of March. Meta also is developing new technology designed to more easily identify these ads, even if they do not include nudity, and have expert teams tracking down account networks accused of running these ads. Social media companies have faced increased pressure to limit this type of content on its platforms, from both lawmakers and tech safety groups. This comes just weeks after President Trump signed the Take It Down Act, making it a crime to knowingly publish sexually explicit 'deepfake' images and videos online. Meta said it 'welcomes legislation that helps fight intimate image abuse across the internet' and applauded the Take it Down Act.
USA Today
24-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
'Tush Push,' revenge porn and Pope Leo's inaugural Mass: Your week in review
'Tush Push,' revenge porn and Pope Leo's inaugural Mass: Your week in review Show Caption Hide Caption Drone video shows areas of Kentucky, St. Louis, devastated by storms Drone video shows widespread significant damage after tornadoes and severe weather tore through the Midwest and South. New law will punish 'revenge porn' Calling it a "national victory," first lady Melania Trump joined her husband, President Donald Trump, in signing legislation to outlaw the publication of computer-generated 'deepfake' images often used in revenge porn. The Take it Down Act will punish offenders and require tech platforms to remove such images within 48 hours of receiving a valid request. The bipartisan bill had sailed through the Senate and passed the House by a vote of 409–2. Said the president, who's busy trying to push his "Big, Beautiful" tax and spending bill through Congress to cement his agenda: 'I wish we could get that vote for other things.' The Pope Leo XIV era has begun "Peace be with you and your spirits." With those words, Pope Leo XIV opened his first Mass as leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics in front of tens of thousands, including dozens of world leaders, at St. Peter's Square in Rome. Leo, the first American-born pontiff, pleaded for unity, noting that "in this, our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred.' Among the gathered faithful: Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with whom the new pope met privately. The White House said Vance passed Leo a letter from President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump 'extending their warm wishes" and an invitation to the White House. Bankrupt 23andMe will live on The pioneering genetic testing firm 23andMe is getting a lifeline − and its customers may be getting some peace of mind. The company was bought for $256 million at a bankruptcy auction by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, which promised to "prioritize the privacy, security and ethical use of 23andMe's customer data" as it pursues new lifesaving drugs and discoveries in human genetics. 23andMe, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March, was the first company to allow customers to map their ancestry by submitting a DNA sample using a home swab. It will continue to operate as a personal genomics service, both companies said. What the financial future means for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's Daily Money newsletter. Jon Stewart skewers Jake Tapper, CNN Jon Stewart isn't happy with CNN. The "Daily Show" host picked the outlet apart for continuing to promote a tell-all book about Joe Biden's cognitive health after the former president announced he had been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. The book, "Original Sin," out now, was co-written by Axios' Alex Thompson and CNN's Jake Tapper. "Don't news people have to tell you what they know when they find it out?" Stewart asked in his "Daily Show" segment on May 19. "Isn't that the difference between news and a secret? 'You won't believe what we found out.' No, that's why I'm watching you." NFL keeps 'Tush Push' in play The NFL won't ban the 'Tush Push', keeping the Eagles' high-success play in the game—for now. 'Tush Push' debate is all behind us now The infamous "Tush Push" isn't going anywhere − except a yard or two at a time again next NFL season. A proposed ban on the short-yardage rugby-like scrum used to great effect by the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles came up short in a team owners' vote at the league's annual spring meeting. Twenty-two teams voted in favor of a ban and 10 teams opposed it − two votes short of what was needed to scuttle the play. The Eagles hailed the decision with two words posted on social media: "Push On." − Compiled by Robert Abitbol NFL goes to the Olympics: Players can compete in flag football's debut at LA Games Compiled and written by Robert Abitbol, USA TODAY copy chief
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
ET Explainer: What is Trump's Take it Down Act to tackle ‘revenge porn'
US president Donald Trump on Monday signed the Take it Down Act , aimed at tackling non-consensual sexually explicit images, or 'revenge porn'—whether real or AI-generated deepfakes—being published online. This comes as the internet has seen several high-profile cases of non-consensual deepfakes of popular celebrities being circulated online, while social media platforms like X and Meta have rolled back content moderation initiatives in countries like the US. ET's Annapurna Roy explains what the new law does and what it means for these platforms. What does the law say? The law, officially called the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilising Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act, makes it a federal crime in the US to knowingly publish intimate images – either authentic or computer-generated – of adults without their consent, as well as of minors. Those who publish such content of minors under the age of 18 can be fined and face up to three years in prison. Where the victims are adults, offenders face up to two years in prison. The Act also imposes penalties on those who threaten to publish such content. Live Events What did Trump say? Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories 'With the rise of AI image generation, countless women have been harassed with deepfakes and other explicit images distributed against their will. This is…wrong… Just so horribly wrong,' Trump said at the signing ceremony. The law will address this 'abusive situation', he said. First lady Melania Trump , who is said to have championed the bill, said AI and social media are addictive for the younger generation and that new technologies can be 'weaponised'. With the law, vulnerable people can be 'better protected from their image or identity being abused through non-consensual intimate imagery,' she said. What does it mean for online platforms? Platforms will have to remove such illegal content within 48 hours after a victim's request. They will also have to make efforts to delete duplicates of this content. Critics, however, have argued that measures such as the takedown provision may be misused. Further, given the short window to take content down, platforms, especially smaller ones, may not be able to verify claims adequately, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Platforms may be forced to weaken encryption to be able to monitor and flag such content better and use flawed technology to crack down on duplicates.
The Hill
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Ocasio-Cortez reintroduces bill to empower AI deepfake victims
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-N.Y.) reintroduced a bill Wednesday that would give those depicted in nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfakes the power to take civil action against those who make or distribute the imagery. Ocasio-Cortez co-led the reintroduction of the bill with Rep. Laurel Lee (R-Fla.) in the House and Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in the upper chamber. The bill is backed by another five senators and nine House members. The legislation, titled The Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act (DEFIANCE), would give survivors and victims of nonconsensual deepfake pornography the 'legal right to pursue justice,' Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement. Should the bill pass, civil actions will be able to be pursued against the individuals who create, distribute or possess with the intent to spread these deepfakes. 'Although the imagery may be fake, the harm to the victims is very real,' Durbin said in a statement Wednesday. 'Victims have lost their jobs, their reputations, and many have suffered from life-altering depression or anxiety.' It comes on the heels of President Trump's signing of the Take It Down Act on Monday, which criminalized the publication of nonconsensual deepfake imagery. The Take It Down Act further requires websites to take down the content without 48 hours and make 'reasonable efforts' to remove duplicate images. The DEFIANCE Act aims to build upon the progress of the Take it Down Act by focusing on civil resource and 'complement' one another, Lee said. 'Together, they both create both accountability and recourse,' Lee said. The bill unanimously passed the Senate last year but did not reach the House floor for a vote.
