The TAKE IT DOWN LAW: A Mother-Daughter Journey from Trauma to the White House | Ep 255

The TAKE IT DOWN LAW: A Mother-Daughter Journey from Trauma to the White House | Ep 255

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From trauma to triumph, the journey of Elliston Berry and her mother Anna stands as a powerful testament to what determined voices can accomplish. When an AI-generated deepfake turned Elliston's innocent Instagram photo into a nude image circulated throughout her high school in October 2023, they discovered a terrifying gap in our legal system. Despite the clear harm caused, no laws existed to address AI harassment, leaving the perpetrator—a minor—facing zero consequences.

Refusing to accept this injustice, Anna Berry embarked on a relentless campaign for change. After exhausting local channels, she began reaching out to legislators in December 2023. Senator Cruz, himself a father to daughters near Elliston's age, recognized the urgency of the issue and championed their cause. What followed was a remarkably swift bipartisan effort resulting in the Take It Down Act—groundbreaking legislation signed into law by President Trump on May 19, 2025, in the White House Rose Garden.

The legislation establishes critical protections by explicitly classifying AI deepfakes as pornography and requiring platforms to remove harmful content within 48 hours. The journey to this historic moment included Elliston being recognized at the State of the Union address and participating in a roundtable with First Lady Melania Trump as part of her "Be Best" initiative. In a rare show of unified support, both the President and First Lady signed the bill.

Yet their work continues beyond legislation. Currently, they're developing educational curriculum to help schools understand, prevent, and respond to AI-related harassment while supporting the creation of technology that can identify unauthorized images across the internet. As Elliston poignantly expressed, "I can now look at this situation that happened to me, instead of being fearful and ashamed, and be proud of myself." Follow their continuing journey on Instagram @ellistonberry and watch for their upcoming book that will share their full story and provide guidance for others facing similar situations.

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