The FTC began enforcing the TAKE IT DOWN Act on May 19, 2026, a law requiring covered platforms to establish a process for victims to request removal of nonconsensual intimate images and delete such content within 48 hours of a valid request. The agency launched a consumer complaint portal, issued compliance guidance for businesses and consumers, and sent reminder letters to major platforms including Meta, TikTok, and X about their obligations under the law. No specific penalties or enforcement actions against individual companies were announced in this release.
Covered platforms must create a publicly accessible process for victims to request removal of nonconsensual intimate images, remove such images and known identical copies within 48 hours of a valid request, and comply with all TAKE IT DOWN Act requirements. The FTC will accept consumer complaints about noncompliant platforms via its TakeItDown.ftc.gov portal.
In-house legal teams at social media, technology, and online platform companies should review user agreements, content moderation vendor contracts, and cloud storage agreements for compliance with the TAKE IT DOWN Act. Key clauses to update include user image consent terms, content takedown procedures, and service-level agreements requiring vendors to remove nonconsensual intimate images and identical copies within 48 hours of a valid request. Teams should also add specific provisions to protect minors’ intimate images, align contracts with FTC compliance guidance, and ensure all agreements include a clear, accessible process for users to submit removal requests.
Entity
Covered Platforms
Industry
Social Media"FTC Begins Enforcing the TAKE IT DOWN Act"
"May 19, 2026"
"Federal Trade Commission"
"began enforcing the TAKE IT DOWN Act"
"covered platforms"
"TAKE IT DOWN Act"
The FTC referred a complaint against REPS & Company Inc. and company executives, alleging they bypassed ticket-issuer security controls and purchasing limits to acquire millions of tickets for resale. The complaint was filed by the Department of Justice, and the case will be decided by the court; the press release does not report a penalty or other remedy imposed.
The FTC sued Digital Forensics Corporation LLC and affiliated defendants, alleging they misled sextortion victims with promises of investigative and monitoring services that often were not provided, and used fake positive reviews. A federal court granted the FTC’s request to temporarily halt the defendants’ activities; the complaint remains for the court to decide.
The FTC alleged that Greenway Auto Group advertised vehicle prices thousands of dollars below the amounts consumers actually paid and used mailers falsely suggesting recipients had won cash prizes. Greenway agreed to an order requiring transparent pricing and prohibiting deceptive prize mailers and other misrepresentations; the press release does not state a monetary penalty.
The FTC sent warning letters to 24 large healthcare services companies, cautioning that incomplete, inaccurate, or untimely pricing information for scheduled medical care may be unfair or deceptive. The letters urge recipients to review their price-disclosure practices and take corrective action; they announce no fine or formal order.
$1.9M
The FTC alleged that Premier Franchising Group LLC and Franchise Fastlane LLC made deceptive and unsubstantiated claims about the Premier Martial Arts franchise opportunity and violated the Franchise Rule. The proposed settlements require the companies to pay a combined $1.85 million to compensate franchisees, prohibit certain misrepresentations, and require Franchise Rule compliance; certain franchisees may also cancel their agreements without penalty.
The FTC, Utah, and Nevada sued Lens.com Inc., alleging that it advertised artificially low contact lens prices while hiding mandatory checkout charges and misleading consumers about its AutoRefill subscription. The complaint seeks to stop the alleged practices; the court has not yet decided the case, and no penalty or remedy has been imposed.