Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says the bipartisan DEFIANCE Act — which would let victims of nonconsensual AI deepfake pornography sue creators and distributors — cleared the Senate but is stalled in the House, possibly because opponents object to her sponsorship. The bill has backing from members on both sides of the aisle, public advocates such as Paris Hilton, and Speaker Mike Johnson. AOC argues that blocking the legislation for partisan reasons risks leaving victims without legal recourse and emboldening abusers. She also notes that existing proposals like the TAKE IT DOWN Act target platforms but do not grant victims a private right to sue.
AOC Says House GOP Is Blocking Bipartisan DEFIANCE Act Out of Spite
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Paris Hilton joined forces for a bipartisan press conference in support of the DEFIANCE Act, which proposes that legal recourse be provided for victims of nonconsensual deepfake pornography. (Getty)
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says the bipartisan DEFIANCE Act — legislation that would give victims of nonconsensual AI deepfake pornography the right to sue creators and distributors — has cleared the Senate but is being held up in the House, possibly because opponents object to her sponsorship.
What the DEFIANCE Act Would Do
The DEFIANCE Act, sponsored in the House by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with Republican Rep. Laurel Lee (Fla.) as a co-sponsor, would allow victims of nonconsensual deepfake sexual imagery to bring civil lawsuits against those who create, distribute, solicit or intend to distribute such material. The measure moved through the Senate by unanimous consent.
Ocasio-Cortez, has worked with Republicans like Rep. Laurel Lee of Florida (L) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) to pass the DEFIANCE Act in the House. But it has stalled so far. (AFP/Getty)
Support and Stalled Progress
The bill has attracted an unusually broad set of backers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and members from both parties such as Reps. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). Despite that bipartisan support — and public lobbying efforts that included Paris Hilton — the DEFIANCE Act has not advanced to a Judiciary Committee vote in the House.
"There's been some reporting recently that some of the block around this may literally just be because my name is attached to it," Ocasio-Cortez told The Independent. "And I don't think that we should be emboldening child pornographers and helping abusers just because of some personal beef that they may have."
Politics, Personalities and Policy
Politico reported that some Republicans are reluctant to move the measure forward because a successful vote would represent a notable political win for Ocasio-Cortez ahead of the midterm cycle. AOC has acknowledged that partisan and personal dynamics can shape how legislation advances, and she urged lawmakers to set aside differences to protect victims.
The late Sen. Lindsey Graham was a supporter of AOC's DEFIANCE Act. (AFP/Getty)
Existing Efforts and Limits
There has been related legislative activity aimed at curbing nonconsensual sexual imagery. The "TAKE IT DOWN" Act, introduced by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) earlier in the last decade, seeks to bar the publication of authentic and AI-generated sexual images without consent and would require platforms to remove such content within 48 hours of notification. Ocasio-Cortez has praised those efforts but argues they leave a gap: they impose platform duties and penalties but do not create a private civil right of action that would let victims sue perpetrators directly.
Why Advocates Say It Matters
Many women in public life, including lawmakers across the political spectrum, have been targeted by deepfake images and videos. Advocates say nonconsensual deepfakes are used to intimidate, silence and shame victims, and that civil remedies are needed so survivors can hold abusers and bad actors accountable.
Ocasio-Cortez also said she would welcome cross-party advocacy, noting that first lady Melania Trump has previously championed anti-deepfake initiatives and that bipartisan cooperation could help get the DEFIANCE Act over the finish line.
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