MANILA – A new bill filed in the House of Representatives seeks to penalize the creation and distribution of sexually explicit content generated through artificial intelligence, including deepfake pornography.

House Bill 807, or the Take It Down Act of 2025, proposes penalties of up to 12 years in prison for offenders—and up to 20 years if the victim is a minor. It also grants victims the right to sue for damages, with proceedings kept confidential to protect their identities.

The bill comes amid a sharp rise in tech-enabled sexual abuse. In 2024, the Philippine National Police  recorded an 18% increase in voyeurism cases, while the National Bureau of Investigation noted a 240% surge in deepfake sextortion complaints.

A 2022 study by UNICEF, INTERPOL, and ECPAT found that one in five Filipino children aged 12 to 17 has experienced online sexual abuse or exploitation.

“The rise of AI tools has made it easier to create realistic deepfake images and videos. Criminals now use these tools to place a victim’s face on pornographic content or generate fake nude images to harass, extort, or humiliate,” said BH Party-list Rep. Robert Nazar, the bill’s author.

BH Party-list spokesperson and former lawmaker Bernadette Herrera called the bill an overdue safeguard for victims, closing a legal gap exploited by AI abusers.

“It gives victims a clear path to justice and a way to reclaim their dignity in a system that has too often failed them,” Herrera said. “No victim should have to beg platforms for mercy while their stolen images circulate online. This bill shifts the burden where it belongs—on the abusers and enablers.”

Advocates stress that minors are especially vulnerable, as explicit deepfakes can cause lasting trauma, disrupt education, and stigmatize victims. Herrera said the Take It Down system would be life-changing for those frequently retraumatized by the lack of solutions.

Nazar said the bill is modeled after the U.S.-based Take It Down system and the UK’s StopNCII initiative. If enacted, it would allow victims to request rapid removal of non-consensual explicit content.

The measure mandates the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to create a Take It Down Portal where verified takedown requests can be filed. The DICT must act within 24 hours, while online platforms would have 48 hours to remove flagged content or face fines of up to ₱1 million per violation.

To support the portal, ₱50 million has been allocated for its launch. The bill also establishes a joint congressional oversight committee to review its implementation every three years.