Featured Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Topics: Melania Trump, Politics, Donald Trump, US News, Crime, News
Rhiannon Ingle
Topics: Melania Trump, Politics, Donald Trump, US News, Crime, News
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual harassment which some readers may find distressing.
Melania Trump has just broken political protocol during a pretty major White House event.
Earlier this week on Monday (19 May), US president Donald Trump signed into law the Take It Down Act - a measure that imposes penalties for online sexual exploitation that Melania helped usher through Congress.
The new bill has now made it a federal crime to 'knowingly publish' or threaten to publish intimate images without a person’s consent, including AI-created 'deepfakes'.
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Websites and social media companies will be required to remove such material within 48 hours after a victim requests it, AP News reports. Such platforms must also take measures to delete duplicate content.
Now, in an unprecedented move, Melania also signed the bill as she called the new law a 'national victory' that will help protect children from online exploitation including through the use of artificial intelligence to make fake images.
"AI and social media are the digital candy for the next generation, sweet addictive and engineered to have an impact on the cognitive development of our children," she said. "But unlike sugar, these new technologies can be weaponised, shape beliefs and, sadly, affect emotions and even be deadly."
Trump noted that such AI images means that 'countless women have been harassed with deepfakes and other explicit images distributed against their will', adding that it is 'just so horribly wrong'.
It's highly unusual for a first lady to add her signature to a bill but Trump encouraged her to do so regardless.
"C’mon, sign it anyway," the president told his wife, adding: "She deserves to sign it."
Melania's signature is merely symbolic, since she isn't an elected official.
Trump also praised Melania for her work campaigning on the issue.
"Honey, you've done amazing," he said, adding that when he heard of the legislation: "I said, it sounds like a tough one, and yet a very important one, and you got it done. So I congratulate you."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a press conference: "This afternoon in the Rose Garden, President Trump, alongside First Lady Melania Trump, will sign the Take It Down Act into law.
"First Lady Melania Trump was instrumental in getting this important legislation passed."
Leavitt continued: "The Take It Down Act will protect victims of digital exploitation, hold internet platforms accountable by requiring them to remove such imagery from their platforms and provide justice for victims by allowing prosecutors to go after those who publish non-consensual, explicit images online.
"The First Lady met with members in the House and the Senate, survivors and their families, and advocates throughout the process to get this bill across the finish line.
"We are grateful for the First Lady's hard work and dedication to this issue, and moving forward, she will continue to champion the wellbeing of our nation's children through her Be Best agenda."
Melania's advocacy for the Take It Down Act is a continuation of the Be Best campaign she started in her husband's first term.
It namely focuses on children’s well-being, social media use and opioid abuse.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.