‘They sold my pain for clicks’: Paris Hilton urges lawmakers to act on nonconsensual deepfakes

January 22, 2026

Paris Hilton testified on Capitol Hill in support of the DEFIANCE Act, a bipartisan bill that would allow victims to sue creators and distributors of nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfake images. Drawing on her experience from 2003 when an intimate video was leaked without her consent, Hilton highlighted how technology has enabled new forms of abuse, with over 100,000 deepfake images of her currently circulating online. The legislation, which passed the Senate unanimously, would enable victims to recover financial damages and profits made from their likeness, addressing gaps in current law as AI-generated deepfakes proliferate.

Who is affected

Paris Hilton (19-year-old at time of original video leak in 2003; currently targeted by deepfakes)
Francesca Mani (17-year-old survivor of deepfake abuse from high school peers)
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (targeted by nonconsensual deepfakes in January)
Women elected officials who have been targeted by deepfakes
Women who have lost jobs due to deepfake targeting
Teenagers who have switched schools due to deepfakes
Children who have lost their lives
Victims of image-based sexual abuse generally

What action is being taken

The DEFIANCE Act is being pushed for a House floor vote after passing the Senate unanimously
Lawmakers including Reps. Ocasio-Cortez and Laurel Lee are rallying for the House vote
X (social platform) has taken steps to restrict the creation of nonconsensual deepfakes on Grok
The Take It Down Act's second provision requiring platforms to remove nonconsensual images within 48 hours of reporting is going into effect in May

Why it matters

The DEFIANCE Act addresses a critical gap in legal protections as technology has outpaced existing laws. Unlike the situation in 2003 when Hilton's video was leaked and no legal recourse existed, this legislation would provide victims with the ability to directly sue perpetrators and recover financial damages, creating both accountability and deterrence. The harm from nonconsensual deepfakes parallels physical sexual assault in its intention to exert power, domination, and humiliation over victims, with real-world consequences including job loss, school transfers, and even deaths. As AI image generators make creating explicit deepfakes virtually cost-free and increasingly realistic, the law would provide both restitution for victims and financial consequences for perpetrators.

What's next

The House needs to schedule and hold a floor vote on the DEFIANCE Act
The Take It Down Act's provision requiring platforms to remove nonconsensual images within 48 hours goes into effect in May

Read full article from source: The 19th