August 10, 2024 - WASHINGTON, D.C. –  On Friday, Senator Rick Scott and Senator Jeanne Shaheen sent letters to multiple Big Tech CEOs urging them to participate in two voluntary programs to locate and take down non-consensual intimate imagery (NII) on online platforms. The bipartisan group of Senators sent letters to the CEOs of X, Alphabet, Amazon, Match, Zoom, Pinterest, Discord, OpenAI, Twitch, Microsoft and Patreon requesting written confirmation that they intend to adopt the Take It Down and Stop NCII programs, which allow online users to remove explicit images of themselves from digital platforms. The increasing spread of NII remains a dangerous and concerning trend in a rapidly evolving digital world. Last year, the Revenge Porn Helpline reported an alarming 106 percent increase in total reports received compared to the previous year, 34 percent of which represented cases of sextortion. 

Joining Senators Scott and Shaheen on the letters were Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Joe Manchin (I-WV), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Bob Casey (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ron Wyden (D-OR). 

In the letters, the senators write, “With one post, NII shared online has the opportunity to ruin the life of an individual, often times young women and girls, and the presence of such on your platform cannot be taken lightly.” 

The senators continue, “Take It Down and Stop NCII allow people to anonymously flag nude or explicit images of themselves they would like platforms to remove. [...] By increasing participation in these programs, companies can take actionable steps to stop the life-altering impact that the NII has on the life, career and family of those affected.” 

Read the full letter HERE or below.

MORE…

Senator Scott continues to fight for Florida families and urge Congress to pass legislation that keeps kids safe online and holds Big Tech companies accountable. Earlier this Congress, he introduced the following legislation:

• ASK Act: Prevents children from accessing artificial intelligence features on social media sites without the consent of a parent or guardian. Additionally, the bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in consultation with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), to issue rules prohibiting social media companies from charging a fee or mandating a paid subscription, as Snapchat has recently done, before allowing parents or kids to remove artificial intelligence features from products used by minors.

• Safe Social Media Act: Requires the FTC, in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to conduct a study on the effects of social media use among American teenagers and children.

• DATA Act: Increases transparency by requiring Big Tech platforms, like Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter, to receive express consent to use Americans’ personal information. The DATA Act also provides Americans with legal recourse against these companies if they believe their right to privacy has been violated.
  Source: Senator Rick Scott