Nigeria and United States Crack Down on Deepfake Abuse with New Legal Measures

The Nigerian federal government announced that individuals who create or share manipulated videos and audio, especially those falsely portraying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will be investigated and prosecuted under existing cybercrime statutes. The statement warned that such deepfakes are being used to stir religious tension and undermine national unity ahead of the political season.

In the United States, the TAKE IT DOWN Act went into effect on 19 May 2025. The bipartisan law requires social‑media platforms to remove non‑consensual sexual imagery, including AI‑generated deepfakes, within 48 hours of reporting. Platforms must also set up a notice‑and‑removal system to alert victims. The legislation targets revenge‑porn‑style abuse and aims to give survivors greater control over harmful content online.