‘Can You Help Me?’ Why The ‘Take It Down Act’ Is A Lifeline For Victims
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Opinion

‘Can You Help Me?’ Why The ‘Take It Down Act’ Is A Lifeline For Victims

Now, anyone can steal an image, fabricate a lie, and blast it worldwide at lightning speed.

Theresa Payton

Right now, there is a bill headed to President Trump’s desk that will protect Americans from deepfake and revenge pornography. This is an incredible win for Americans, and something I have been fighting for my entire career. 

Over decades in the cybersecurity field, I’ve helped solve a lot of crises for government agencies, major corporations and more. But there’s a certain kind of call that I still dread getting. It starts with a trembling voice on the other end of the line: “Can you help me?” As they tell their tale, my heart sinks. A lump forms in my throat. This is another life shattered by explicit images strewn across the digital public square, each notification on their phone another dagger into their sense of safety as the image spreads.

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