New Law Protects Kids From Intimate Images Online: What Parents Need to Know
The FTC will enforce a new law requiring websites to remove intimate images of minors within 48 hours. Parents can now report violations directly.
Source
CyberScoop
Original headline: Here’s how the FTC plans to enforce the Take It Down Act
Plain-English summary by GetCyberRight. Read the full report at the source above.
The Federal Trade Commission has announced how it will enforce the Take It Down Act, a new law designed to protect children and teens from having intimate images shared online without consent. Under this law, websites and online platforms must remove reported intimate images of minors within 48 hours or face significant fines.
The FTC will investigate violations and can impose hefty penalties on companies that fail to comply. This affects any family with children or teenagers who use social media, messaging apps, or other online platforms. If your child's intimate images are shared online without permission, whether through bullying, revenge, or exploitation, you now have a legal tool to get them removed quickly. The law applies to all major websites and platforms where such content might appear.
- Visit TakeItDown.NCMEC.org, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's reporting portal, to file a removal request.
- Do not try to download or screenshot the images as evidence, as this can create additional copies and potential legal issues.
- Report the content directly to the platform where it appears using their built-in reporting tools while also filing with the NCMEC portal.
- If the platform does not remove the content within 48 hours, you can file a complaint with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Contact local law enforcement if the situation involves threats, blackmail, or you believe your child is in immediate danger. Protect your family long-term by having ongoing conversations with your children about digital safety. Talk to them about the permanence of anything shared online and make sure they know they can come to you without judgment if something goes wrong. Remind teens that they are not at fault if someone shares their images without permission and that there are now legal protections to help them. Keep communication open so your children feel safe telling you about online problems before they escalate.
Curated from trusted cybersecurity sources by GetCyberRight
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