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Warning LetterLow Risk

FTC Chairman Ferguson Advises Technology Companies to Comply with Take It Down Act

Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, Automattic, Bumble, Discord, Match Group, Meta, Microsoft, Pinterest, Reddit, SmugMug, Snapchat, TikTok, XMay 11, 2026Federal Trade Commission

Summary

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson sent letters to over a dozen major technology companies reminding them of their obligation to comply with the Take It Down Act (TIDA) by May 19, 2026. TIDA requires covered platforms to establish a process for victims, including children, to request removal of nonconsensual intimate images, with takedown of content and all identical copies required within 48 hours of a valid request. The FTC also issued supplemental guidance to help companies prepare for compliance and warned that it will monitor and enforce violations of the law.

Contract Impact

In-house legal teams at covered platforms (including social media, messaging, image/video sharing, and gaming platforms) should review user terms of service and privacy policies to ensure they include a clear and conspicuous notice of the process for victims to request removal of nonconsensual intimate images, as required by the Take It Down Act. Vendor agreements with content moderation service providers should be updated to include service level agreements mandating 48-hour takedown of valid requests and all identical copies of removed content. Additionally, employee training materials and internal content moderation guidelines should be revised to align with TIDA definitions of covered content and verification procedures for victim requests, particularly for content involving children.

Contract Search Terms

nonconsensual intimate image removal48 hour takedown requirementTake It Down Act compliancevictim request processchildren's intimate imageclear and conspicuous noticeidentical copy removalcovered platform definition

Laws Cited

Take It Down Act (TIDA)

Violation Types

Entity Details

Entity

Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, Automattic, Bumble, Discord, Match Group, Meta, Microsoft, Pinterest, Reddit, SmugMug, Snapchat, TikTok, X

Industry

Technology

Official Sources

Source Evidence

Entity Name
"including Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, Automattic, Bumble, Discord, Match Group, Meta, Microsoft, Pinterest, Reddit, SmugMug, Snapchat, TikTok and X."
Laws Cited
"Take It Down Act (TIDA)"
Event Date
"May 11, 2026"
Jurisdiction
"Federal Trade Commission"
Event Type
"sent letters today to more than a dozen prominent technology companies reminding businesses of their obligation to comply fully with the Take It Down Act (TIDA)"
Summary
"Take It Down Act (TIDA) requires covered platforms to establish a process allowing victims, including children, to request removal of intimate photos or videos shared without their consent."

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