Booker Blocks Cruz’s UC Attempt on Deepfake Porn Bill

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., on Wednesday blocked an attempt from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to pass deepfake porn legislation by unanimous consent. Booker blocked Cruz’s UC request on the Senate floor without offering an explanation. “Object,” he said. Cruz introduced the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks (Take It Down) Act with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. (see 2406210047). The bill would establish criminal liability for individuals and entities publishing nonconsensual intimate imagery, including AI-created deepfake porn. Cruz said he doubted Booker’s objection was free speech-driven, given the New Jersey Democrat has supported “two bills that deal with this very same issue using the same language,” including the Shield Act. Without the Take it Down Act, victims of sextortion and fake porn have “no protection,” said Cruz. Booker in March joined Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., in blocking a UC attempt on other child-online-safety-related bills (see 2403070039).