Lesson 5 of 7 · About 4 minutes
What the law says where you are
Your own state’s bullying law, from Lantern, and four federal rules that apply everywhere.
Every state requires schools to have a bullying policy, and in 49 of the 51 states, including Washington, D.C., that policy covers cyberbullying.
Where you are
The law where you are
Choose your state or country to see what its law requires. It stays on this device.
Federal rules that apply everywhere
- Images: under the federal TAKE IT DOWN Act (2025), posting intimate images without consent is a crime, including fake ones made with AI, and platforms must remove them within 48 hours of a valid request.
- Sextortion of a child is a serious federal crime. The FBI does not treat a child who was tricked or pressured as an offender.
- Threats: real threats are not protected speech (Counterman v. Colorado, 2023). Schools can still act through discipline and threat assessment.
- Off-campus speech: schools can respond to some off-campus behavior, such as serious bullying or threats aimed at students, but their power is more limited than on campus (Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., 2021).
Your profession
What your profession expects
Choose your role to see what your profession’s standards say.
Check yourself
Show the answer
Answer: Yes. Fake intimate images of real people are covered too. The TAKE IT DOWN Act (2025) covers real and fake intimate images, and platforms must remove them within 48 hours of a valid request.
Remember
- Every state requires a bullying policy, and 49 of 51 cover cyberbullying.
- Fake intimate images are covered by federal law, and platforms must remove them within 48 hours.
- Schools can respond to some off-campus behavior, such as threats.