The first lady of the US, Melania Trump, made efforts in the Capitol in favor of a bill that would become a federal crime to publish intimate images on the Internet, whether real or false.
Melania Trump made lobbying on Monday at the Capitol for a bill that would become a federal crime to publish intimate images on the Internet, whether real or false, and said it was “heartbreaking” to see what adolescents, especially girls, face after being victims of people who disseminate said content.
It was his first public appearance since He resumed the role of First Lady on January 20. He called Congress – controlled by Republicans – to prioritize the well -being of young people.
“This toxic environment can be extremely harmful. We must prioritize their well -being by equipping them with the support and the necessary tools to navigate in this hostile digital landscape, ”he said during a round table on the Revirmed Law in the Capitol.
“Each young man deserves a safe online space to express themselves freely, without the imminent threat of exploitation or damage,” he said.
The Senate approved the law in February, and the public support of Melania Trump could help him advance through the Chamber controlled by Republicans and reach President Donald Trump's desk to become law. The main sponsors of the bill are Ted Cruz, Texas Republican, and Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Democrat; and the representatives Maria Salazar, Republican of Florida, and Madeleine Dean, Democrat of Pennsylvania.
Cruz, who organized the discussion in the Capitol Mansfield Room, told the First Lady that his leadership “is incredibly important and I am sure that he will play a critical role in accelerating the approval of this bill and in getting him to become law.”
He said the measure was inspired by Elliston Berry and his mother, who visited their office after Snapchat refused for almost a year to eliminate a non -consensual graphic image generated by artificial intelligence, also known as “Deepfake”, of the then 14 -year -old teenager. Elliston and other victims shared their stories on Monday.
Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, supports legislation.
The bill would become a federal crime to publish or threaten to publish intimate images online without the consent of an individual, including realistic intimate images generated by computer -generated people who can be identified. Social networks would have 48 hours to eliminate these images and take measures to eliminate duplicate content after a victim's request.
“Having an intimate image, whether real or generated by AI, shared without consent can be devastating and target has developed and supported many efforts to help prevent it,” said Communications Director Andy Stone in X.
The president of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, a republican of Louisiana, also attended the round table and expressed his support for the bill, but did not offer a schedule for a vote.
“We are eager to take it to the camera's plenary, to send it to President Trump's desk for his signature because we have to do what we can stop this, and I am a firm supporter of it,” said Johnson.
The first lady also launched a criticism of the Democrats, saying that she expected more of them to participate in the discussion. California's representative, Rue Khanna, was the only Democrat in the room.
“Surely, as adults, we can prioritize the children of the United States over partisan policy,” he said.
The appearance of the first lady next to Cruz came years after the senator and her husband made a bitter campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. At one time, Trump falsely accused Cruz of being behind an announcement launched by a Super Committee of Anti-Trump Political Action that presented a suggestive photo of Melania Trump, an exmodel. GQ.
In Trump's first administration, Melania Trump led a youth initiative that appointed “Be Best” (“Be better”), which included an approach to Internet security. He has said that she is interested in reliving the program.