Everyone deserves to feel safe online and to have control over their images. On Snapchat, we expressly prohibit sharing, promoting, or distributing sexually explicit content, including non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII). But with the help of legislators, we can codify and strengthen industry standards and provide stronger protections against this type of harm. That's why we're proud to support H.R. 633, also known as the TAKE IT DOWN (Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes On Websites and Networks) Act.

The TAKE IT DOWN Act makes publishing NCII and similar imagery a federal criminal offense. It also requires websites and platforms like Snapchat to remove such imagery within 48 hours of a request from the victim, and to make reasonable efforts to identify and remove copies of the image(s). This law is a critical step not only in helping to protect people from having their private images shared without permission, but also in limiting the distribution of AI-generated intimate images that can be just as damaging.

At Snap, protecting our community — especially our younger users — is our highest priority. The TAKE IT DOWN Act aligns with and complements our ongoing efforts to stop bad actors from distributing NCII and child sexual exploitation and abuse imagery (CSEAI) online. Our work includes: 

• Quick Action on Reports 

Our 24/7 safety teams respond to harassment or sexual content reports quickly, aiming to ensure swift action when Snapchatters need help. We make reporting easy within the app, allowing Snapchatters to report individual messages, stories, or accounts directly from conversations. We also have specific categories for people to report NCII and CSEAI so our safety teams can prioritize those reports and act quickly.

• Supporting Victims Through Industry-Wide Partnerships

We actively participate in the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) Take It Down program, which allows minors to create digital "fingerprints" of intimate images without sharing the actual images. We use these fingerprints to detect matching content on Snapchat and remove anything that violates our policies. We also participate in similar programs like Report Remove in the UK, also for minors’ imagery, and StopNCII for 18+ – all helping to prevent the spread of intimate imagery across our platform.

• Advanced Technology to Detect and Remove Harmful Content 

We use specialized technology like PhotoDNA to detect known illegal images and Google’s CSAI Match for known illegal videos. We also use Google’s Content Safety API to help us identify illegal imagery that hasn't been reported or hashed before. 

• Protecting Teens from Strangers and Suspicious Accounts

To address the recent trend of sextortion scams, we’ve rolled out protections for younger users that help prevent strangers from being able to find their profiles and connect with them. We warn teens about suspicious friend requests and prevent delivery of a friend request altogether when it comes from an account with no mutual friends to a teen or if the account has a history of accessing Snapchat in locations associated with scamming activity. We also take steps to stop offenders from creating new accounts on the same device, or using the same email address or phone number. 

• Working with Law Enforcement 

Our Law Enforcement Operations team has grown considerably, allowing us to better collaborate with authorities to help keep Snapchatters safe. We host an annual law enforcement summit in the U.S. and work with international law enforcement, including in West Africa, where many sextortion cases originate. When emergencies arise, we typically respond to related data disclosure requests from law enforcement within 30 minutes. In addition, when we become aware of child sexual exploitation – either when it is reported to us and/or we proactively identify it – we report it to NCMEC, which, in turn, coordinates with domestic and international law enforcement as appropriate.

• Education and Awareness 

To help educate our community directly, we've launched in-app short-form videos about sexual risks and potential harms via our “Safety Snapshot” channel on Discover. Topics include financial sextortion and the consequences of taking and sharing nudes. Additionally, we have developed resources for parents and educators to help them understand how teens use Snapchat and what safeguards exist to help keep them safe. Our Snap Council for Digital Well-Being brings together teens to champion safer online habits in their schools and communities. We also collaborate with experts to support initiatives like Know2Protect, a national public awareness campaign launched by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help prevent and combat crimes such as financial sextortion. 

Our Ongoing Commitment 

While we're pleased with our progress, we know our work may never be done. At Snap, we will continue to raise awareness about potential online harms, develop new technologies to detect violating content, and work collaboratively with industry partners, government agencies, law enforcement, civil society, parents and young people themselves. 

By supporting the TAKE IT DOWN Act and continuing our safety efforts, we're working toward a future where everyone can enjoy connecting with friends and family online without fear of exploitation or abuse. 

We care deeply about the safety of every Snapchatter and remain committed to making our platform a hostile environment for bad actors and a healthy space for genuine connection.