Shaheen, Scott Call on Big Tech CEOs to Adopt Programs Cracking Down on the Spread of Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery on Online Platforms

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, and Rick Scott (R-FL) are sending letters to multiple Big Tech CEOs urging them to participate in two voluntary programs to locate and take down non-consensual intimate imagery (NII) on online platforms. The bipartisan group of Senators sent letters to the CEOs of X, Alphabet, Amazon, Match, Zoom, Pinterest, Discord, OpenAI, Twitch, Microsoft and Patreon requesting written confirmation that they intend to adopt the Take It Down and Stop NCII programs, which allow online users to remove explicit images of themselves from digital platforms. The increasing spread of NII remains a dangerous and concerning trend in a rapidly evolving digital world. Last year, the Revenge Porn Helpline reported an alarming 106 percent increase in total reports received compared to the previous year, 34 percent of which represented cases of sextortion. 

In part, the Senators wrote: “With one post, NII shared online has the opportunity to ruin the life of an individual, often times young women and girls, and the presence of such on your platform cannot be taken lightly.” 

They continued: “Take It Down and Stop NCII allow people to anonymously flag nude or explicit images of themselves they would like platforms to remove. [...] By increasing participation in these programs, companies can take actionable steps to stop the life-altering impact that the NII has on the life, career and family of those affected.” 

Text of the letter can be found here. 

Joining Shaheen and Scott on the letters were U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Joe Manchin (I-WV), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Bob Casey (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ron Wyden (D-OR). 

Shaheen is a vocal advocate for efforts to increase online privacy and protections for youth. In the Committee-passed Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2025, Shaheen secured language encouraging the U.S. Department of Justice to prioritize investigating sextortion. 

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