Photo: Alamy
First Lady Melania Trump reaffirmed her commitment to protecting children in the digital world by delivering a message to participants at a Federal Trade Commission workshop focused on how technology companies impact young users.
In her remarks, the First Lady emphasized the need for cooperation between government agencies and private industry to create tools that empower parents and safeguard children from online harm. She highlighted her desire to shape federal policies that reflect this shared responsibility.
“We will work together to develop tools to empower parents and youth, and we will lean on tech executives in the private sector to do their part,” she stated.
She also expressed appreciation to the Federal Trade Commission for its efforts in organizing the event and for prioritizing child safety as part of the national conversation around technology regulation.
The workshop brought together experts, advocates and policymakers to examine how digital platforms shape children’s experiences and to explore ways to address the challenges posed by the attention economy.
During the event, the commission’s chairman praised the First Lady’s advocacy in the recent passage of a new law called the Take It Down Act, aimed at removing non-consensual explicit images and artificial intelligence-generated content from the internet. The law allows individuals and families to request the swift removal of harmful material and has been described as a major step forward in online child protection.
The First Lady referenced stories of families who have suffered from the distribution of intimate images and deepfake abuse, emphasizing the urgency of continued action.
“Let their courage continue to inspire us to find solutions to protect children and youth from online harm,” she said.
Andrew Ferguson, Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, thanked the first lady for her leadership on the issue.
“I’m also incredibly grateful to the First Lady for her leadership on the ‘TAKE IT DOWN Act’. Getting legislation done in any circumstance is very difficult, and the ‘TAKE IT DOWN’ Act could not have gotten through Congress without the First Lady’s intervention and leadership,” said Ferguson. “The First Lady’s advocacy in particular was extremely valuable to get this bill across the finish line.”
