Top Stories – May 25, 2026
1. FTC Begins Enforcing Take It Down Act, Targets 12 Major Platforms Tier 1
Source: Federal Trade Commission | Date: May 19, 2026
The FTC activated enforcement of the Take It Down Act on May 19 – one year after its signing – requiring covered platforms to remove non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes, within 48 hours of a victim request or face civil penalties of $53,088 per violation. The agency sent formal warning letters to more than a dozen major platforms including Meta, Apple, Microsoft, TikTok, Reddit, Snapchat, and X.
2. South Carolina Enacts Stop Harm From Addictive Social Media Act Tier 1
Source: WRDW | Date: May 20, 2026
Governor Henry McMaster signed HB 4591 on May 19, requiring social media platforms to verify user ages and obtain parental consent before minors can create accounts – a measure that passed both chambers with near-unanimous margins (House 115-0, Senate 42-1) and takes effect January 1, 2027.
3. California Senate Passes SB 903 Banning AI Psychotherapy Services 39-0 Tier 2
Source: CA Senate District 18 | Date: May 19, 2026
SB 903 cleared the California Senate unanimously, prohibiting AI systems from advertising or providing psychotherapy services and requiring licensed human professionals to oversee any AI use in mental health care; the bill now advances to the Assembly.
Scoring: Tier 1 = regulatory changes/enforcement/EOs | Tier 2 = state/international/corporate | Tier 3 = analysis/commentary. Impact criteria: regulatory intent, scale, timeline.