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Mandy Taheri

By Mandy Taheri

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Paris Hilton and a bipartisan group of House lawmakers are pushing legislation aimed at combating sexually explicit artificial intelligence (AI)-generated deepfakes amid growing concerns over the spread of nonconsensual digital forgeries online.

The effort, introduced by Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has drawn support from dozens of Republicans and Democrats who say victims need stronger legal tools to hold creators and distributors of the content accountable.

Despite attracting both bipartisan and celebrity support, the measure has seen little movement in the chamber since being introduced in May 2025. Meanwhile, the Senate unanimously passed its version of the legislation in January of this year.

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Newsweek has reached out to representatives for Hilton as well as Ocasio-Cortez, Republican Representative Laurel Lee and several of the other cosponsors for comment via email on Thursday.

Paris Hilton, right, speaks beside Representative Laurel Lee at a news conference about the DEFIANCE Act on January 22 in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

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What Is the DEFIANCE Act?

The Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits (DEFIANCE) Act introduced by Ocasio-Cortez in May 2025 would create a federal civil remedy for victims of nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfakes and other intimate digital forgeries. The legislation is aimed at images or videos that use AI or other technology to falsely depict an identifiable person in nude or sexual content without their consent.

Under the bill, victims would be able to sue individuals who create, distribute or threaten to distribute such material and seek damages in court. Victims could recover damages of up to $250,000 in cases connected to sexual assault, stalking or harassment.

Supporters say the legislation is intended to address a rapidly growing problem, as AI tools make it easier to create realistic fake images and videos. Lawmakers behind the bill argue that victims can suffer reputational harm, emotional distress, harassment and other consequences even when viewers know the images are fabricated. The bill has 57 cosponsors.

Speaking at a January news conference, Hilton reflected on the release of a sexually explicit video recorded when she was 19 and leaked by an older, former boyfriend, saying: “People called it a scandal. It wasn’t. It was abuse.”

She continued, “There were no laws at the time to protect me. There weren’t even words for what had been done to me. ... They sold my pain for clicks, and then they told me to be quiet, to move on, to even be grateful for the attention. These people didn’t see me as a young woman who had been exploited.”

Paris Hilton poses on the House steps of the U.S. Capitol after a news conference to urge the House to pass the DEFIANCE Act, on January 22. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images)

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Lee, of Florida, said at the news conference, "Victims have seen their reputations destroyed, their careers derailed, their mental health profoundly affected, and for too long, our laws have lagged behind this technology. Victims have been left without clear, consistent legal tools when their life is stolen and weaponized without their consent. The DEFIANCE Act closes that gap."

Ocasio-Cortez mentioned her personal experience while speaking about the legislation in January, saying, “As a survivor of sexual assault myself, this resurfaces trauma for so many people across the country, and that is what it is intended to do,” she said about nonconsensual explicit deepfakes.

“Because the creation of this content parallels the same exact intention of physical assault, which is about power, domination and humiliation. And while these images may be digital, the harm to victims is very real. Women lose their jobs when they are targeted with this. Teenagers switch schools and children lose their lives. Congress has a moral obligation to stop this harm," she added.

Last year, Congress passed the Take It Down Act, which created criminal penalties for sharing nonconsensual intimate images, including sexually explicit deepfakes. President Donald Trump signed the legislation, which first lady Melania Trump backed. The DEFIANCE Act works to take the previous legislation further.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks with reporters as she departs a vote at the U.S. Capitol on July 22. (Francis Chung/Politico via AP Images)

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Why Is It Stalled?

Despite bipartisan support, the measure has not yet reached the House floor for a vote and the reason remains unclear.

One theory, from four people involved in the legislation who spoke with Politico*,* is that some lawmakers' reluctance to advance the bill stemmed from its association with Ocasio-Cortez, who is viewed as a potential progressive contender for the 2028 presidential nomination, and other Congress members not wanting to boost her profile even more.

Ocasio-Cortez has not announced a presidential bid, although several polls find her leading a hypothetical Democratic primary. A new University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll found her leading the pack with 22 percent, compared to former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's 21 percent, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly's 9 percent, California Governor Gavin Newsom's 8 percent, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders' 6 percent and former Vice President Kamala Harris' 5 percent. The poll surveyed 648 likely 2028 Democratic presidential primary voters from July 15 to July 20 and has a margin of error of 3.8 percent.

The progressive Democrat said earlier in July that the reason for the holdup is Republican Representative Jim Jordan, chair of the Judiciary Committee. She told The Independent, “Senator [Lindsey] Graham, Senator [Josh] Hawley as well were instrumental in securing bipartisan support for this legislation to protect kids, women, everyone from non-consensual AI-developed porn, and it passed the Senate unanimously. Every single Republican voted for it, and so when it comes to the House, I think we just got to ask Jim Jordan.”

The legislation was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary in May 2025. The committee chair controls the panel's agenda, including which bills receive hearings and markups. Newsweek has reached out to Jordan and other House leaders for comment via email on Thursday.

Although the DEFIANCE Act has attracted bipartisan support, debates over AI-generated content and other related legislation have prompted some digital-rights advocates to warn that lawmakers should ensure new regulations are narrowly tailored and include safeguards for lawful expression and due process.

Which Republicans Cosponsor the DEFIANCE Act?

Which Democrats Cosponsor the DEFIANCE Act?

For now, supporters, including Hilton, are continuing to press for House action as they seek to move the legislation to the president's desk.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Edward T. Cummins.

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