Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Let Victims Sue Over Explicit AI Deepfakes
The DEFIANCE Act of 2025 is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was recently sent to the House Committee on the Judiciary for review. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time, and the bill is still in the beginning phase.
The bill has strong support from both parties and addresses a growing public concern, but it may face challenges regarding how it interacts with existing internet laws.
Minors who are victims of deepfake images get special legal protection: the 10-year window to file a lawsuit does not begin until they turn 18, giving young victims time to act once they are adults. This matters because deepfake nude images have become a growing problem in middle and high schools.
“the date on which the identifiable individual reaches 18 years of age.”
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
The Senate unanimously passed the DEFIANCE Act, which allows victims to sue creators of nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfakes for a minimum of $150,000. The bill moves to the House amid new momentum following controversies over AI-generated imagery on platforms like X.
The DEFIANCE Act, sponsored by Sen. Dick Durbin, allows victims to bring civil charges against those who knowingly create and distribute nonconsensual nudity. Victims can recover up to $250,000 in damages. The bill follows the passage of the Take It Down Act signed by President Trump.
Celebrity advocate Paris Hilton joined Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Laurel Lee at a Capitol Hill news conference to urge the House to pass the DEFIANCE Act. Hilton shared her own history of exploitation to highlight the need for federal civil recourse against AI-generated abuse.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
DEFIANCE Act of 2025
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