Rep. Lee, Ocasio-Cortez, Paris Hilton Join House Members and Advocates in Calling to Pass DEFIANCE Act
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Congresswomen Laurel Lee (FL-15), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Ms. Paris Hilton were joined by advocates and Representatives for a press conference to advocate for the passage of the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act (DEFIANCE Act), bipartisan legislation that would grant survivors the right to take civil action against individuals who knowingly produce, distribute, solicit and receive or possess with the intent to distribute nonconsensual sexually-explicit digital forgeries.
“Deepfakes are not harmless, and they are not victimless. They are deliberate digital forgeries—often sexual in nature—created to exploit, harass, and humiliate. While the images and videos may be fake, the harm is very real,” said Rep. Lee. “For too long, our laws have lagged behind this technology, leaving victims without clear legal tools when their likeness is stolen and weaponized. The DEFIANCE Act closes that gap. It is about restoring dignity, restoring accountability, and restoring justice. I am committed to working with my colleagues to see this legislation enacted, so perpetrators face consequences for their actions and victims across this country finally have the protections they deserve.”
The text of the legislation can be found here.
This legislation builds on progress made by the passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act signed into law in May 2025.
Last week, the Senate passed the DEFIANCE Act of 2025 by unanimous consent to give survivors of digital abuse and exploitation the tools they need to seek justice. Now, House Representatives and advocates are asking Speaker Johnson to put the DEFIANCE Act on the House floor for a vote.
