What started as a horrific nightmare almost two years ago has turned into something only dreams are made of, according to Elliston, Aledo’s newest AI influencer, so says Time Magazine.
Amazingly, the two, working in tandem with Senator Ted Cruz (R, TX), pushed the bill into law in less than a year.
“We heard that some bills have been in the system for up to seven years,” Elliston said, “waiting for numerous actions in Congress.”
Take It Down was a bipartisan effort, championed not only by Cruz and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D, MN), but also by the First Lady, Melania Trump. After being invited by the First Lady to be a part of her roundtable on AI, Elliston was sitting in the gallery, on the First Lady’s left during the President’s State of the Union address.
Elliston and eight friends were in their freshmen year at Aledo High School when a classmate used their social media images, with the help of an AI app, to produce sexually explicit photos of the girls and posted them. They remained active online for nine months.
“It was terrifying,” Elliston recalls, “I didn’t know how to tell my parents.”
Knowing her daughter’s heart, McAdams said she knew the pictures were false, and backed her choice to fight back.
“We never had our day in court,” McAdams said, “it never even made it to the DA. He simply walked away, while our girls will always live in fear that these images may reappear.”
After testifying before Congress in June, 2024, Elliston won the support of Cruz and Klobuchar, who put the First Lady in touch with Elliston. With the backing of family and friends, she fought all the way to the White House, and was standing next to the President as he signed her bill into law.
Cruz introduced the Take It Down bill to the Senate on Jan. 16. It passed unanimously on Feb. 13, and the House of Representatives on April 28, with a 409-2 vote. On May 19, it became federal law.
“After all the time and effort, it’s so inspiring to see how God has changed this bad situation into good,” Elliston said of her ordeal.
To make her journey even more surreal, Elliston was recently named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential AI activists. Her designation is that of one against AI harm.
“I couldn’t be more thankful for this opportunity and honor, and am truly blessed for the ability to further educate others on AI, as well as pursue the plans that the Lord has for me,” Elliston said.
The First Lady is organizing a second round table in her fight against AI harm, and this determined pair from Aledo plan to be there.
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