Photo: Alamy
First Lady Melania Trump spoke during a special roundtable discussion on Monday with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., where she advocated for the protection of America’s youth from the disturbing dangers of AI-created non-consensual imagery.
“I am here with you today with a common goal – to protect our youth from online harm,” Mrs. Trump said. “The widespread presence of abusive behavior in the digital domain affects the daily lives of our children, families, and communities.”
The roundtable centered on the “Take It Down Act,” which aims to make it illegal for someone to knowingly publish or even threaten to publish AI or computer-created pornographic images of real people. According to The Hill, the act has passed in the Senate but has not yet passed the House.
“Addressing this issue is essential for fostering a safe and supportive environment for our young people,” the First Lady said, “I hope today’s roundtable builds awareness of the harm caused by non-consensual intimate imagery and eventually the approval of the Take It Down Act in Congress.”
The First Lady focused on the dangers of AI and the threat of privacy breaches. “We must prioritize strict robust security measures and uphold strict ethical standards to protect individual privacy,” she remarked.
According to 2023 data from Thorn’s annual youth monitoring research, 11 percent of children surveyed between ages 9-17 said they believed their friends had engaged in the creation of using AI tools to create graphic images of other kids.
She emphasized the importance of protecting children from such online dangers and noted that this aligned with her ongoing “Be Best” initiative, which has long advocated for championing the safety, health, and well-being of America’s children.
During her remarks, Mrs. Trump told the story of a 15-year-old girl, Elliston Berry, who was targeted by her peers when they created non-consensual “intimate images of her and then spread the images across social media.”
This was done to humiliate her, Mrs. Trump explained, and the images were even circulated worldwide on the internet.
She said such a thing was “heartbreaking” to see, especially among girls.
“This toxic environment can be severely damaging. We must prioritize their well-being by equipping them with the support and tools necessary to navigate this hostile digital landscape,” the First Lady pressed.
She noted that every young person “deserves a safe online space to express themselves freely without the looming threat of exploitation or harm.”
The First Lady urged Congress to “prioritize” passing the “Take It Down Act” and called it an “essential” component to address “growing concerns related to online safety, protecting individual rights, and promoting a healthier digital environment.”
In addition to her call to prioritize the bill, she said she had “expected to see more Democrat leaders” at the roundtable today, and remarked that, “surely, as adults, we can prioritize America’s children ahead of partisan politics.”
