Washington — Paris Hilton and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have united to address a growing concern over AI-generated deepfake pornography. They held a press conference at the Capitol, alongside Republican Representative Laurel Lee from Florida, to advocate for the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act, known as the DEFIANCE Act. This legislation aims to give victims of such digital exploitation the legal rights necessary to sue those who create and distribute these harmful images.

Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the significant emotional and psychological toll these digital creations inflict on victims. “While these images may be digital, the harm to victims is very real,” she stated. She highlighted the severe consequences women and teenagers face, such as job loss and the displacement of teenagers from their schools, even in extreme cases leading to tragic outcomes.

Sharing her own experience, Hilton recounted how an intimate video of her was spread online without her consent when she was just 19 years old. “What happened to me then is happening now to millions of women and girls in a new and more terrifying way,” she said. Hilton spoke about the lack of legal protections during her ordeal, adding that terms to describe such abuses didn’t even exist back then.

The urgency for the DEFIANCE Act has been amplified by recent incidents involving AI tools that generate explicit imagery. Although specific platforms were not cited during the press conference, the discussions come on the heels of concerns regarding the AI chatbot Grok and its troubling outputs, which included sexualized images of minors. Countries have responded to these developments by banning the technology altogether.

Social media companies, protected under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, have often evaded legal responsibility for content shared on their platforms. However, this long-standing legal shield is increasingly under scrutiny from both political parties. Lawmakers argue that individuals should have recourse against platforms that allow such abuses to proliferate.

The DEFIANCE Act has already gained traction, passing through the Senate with unanimous support. However, it remains uncertain when it will be brought up for a vote in the House. Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated his support for the bill, signifying broad bipartisan backing.

In addition to her advocacy for the DEFIANCE Act, Hilton has previously collaborated with lawmakers on legislation aimed at combating abuse in residential treatment facilities for troubled adolescents. Her commitment to these critical issues reflects a broader effort to confront various forms of exploitation in the modern digital landscape.

The legislative landscape is evolving rapidly in response to the unique challenges posed by technology. As lawmakers and advocates work to address these issues, the DEFIANCE Act stands as a potential turning point in the fight against digital exploitation and harassment.