Paris Hilton and AOC Lead Bipartisan Charge Against AI-Generated Deepfake Pornography
In a remarkable display of cross-party collaboration, celebrity Paris Hilton has joined forces with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to champion groundbreaking legislation aimed at combating the scourge of non-consensual AI-generated pornography. The two high-profile figures held a press conference alongside Republican co-sponsor Representative Laurel Lee of Florida, highlighting the urgent need for legal protections in the digital age.
The DEFIANCE Act: A Civil Remedy for Digital Abuse
The proposed legislation, known as the DEFIANCE Act, would establish a crucial civil cause of action for individuals who find themselves targeted by deepfake AI pornography created without their consent. Representative Ocasio-Cortez emphasised the alarming proliferation of such material since the widespread release of AI tools, noting that the vast majority of AI-generated deepfakes constitute non-consensual pornography. "Since the public release of AI tools, we have seen an absolute explosion in AI generated images used to sexually harass victims and children," she stated during the conference.
Ocasio-Cortez framed the initiative as more than just a political coalition, describing it as "a coalition of survivors of sexual harassment and in some cases, abuse and assault." Both she and Hilton have personally experienced being targeted by AI deepfake pornography, lending powerful personal testimony to the legislative effort.
Personal Testimonies Highlight Urgent Need for Legal Protections
Paris Hilton drew poignant parallels between modern AI-generated abuse and her own traumatic experience from the early 2000s, when a private video was leaked without her consent. "People called it a scandal," Hilton told reporters. "It wasn't. It was abuse. There were no laws at the time to protect me. There weren't even words for what had been done to me."
The celebrity activist highlighted how technology has lowered barriers to such abuse, noting that "before someone had to betray your trust and steal something real. Now, all it takes is a computer and a stranger's imagination." She revealed that more than 100,000 deepfake images of her currently exist online, illustrating the scale of the problem.
Bipartisan Support and Legislative Progress
The DEFIANCE Act has already achieved significant legislative momentum, having passed the Senate earlier this month by unanimous consent. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina led the charge in the upper chamber, while House Speaker Mike Johnson has also thrown his support behind the legislation.
However, this is not the first attempt to pass such protections. In 2024, similar legislation passed the Senate by unanimous consent but ultimately stalled before the end of the last Congress. Ocasio-Cortez explained that time constraints in the previous legislative session hampered progress, though she has since engaged in productive discussions with Speaker Johnson about moving the bill forward.
Unusual Political Alliances and Ongoing Challenges
The press conference brought together an unusually diverse coalition, including advocates, survivors, and female legislators from both major parties. Notable attendees included MAGA-aligned representatives such as Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Claudia Tenney of New York, and Nancy Mace of South Carolina.
Representative Luna, who has collaborated with Ocasio-Cortez on other bipartisan initiatives including congressional stock trading bans and credit card interest caps, praised their working relationship. "I mean, you have to be able to put pressure on your own party," Luna remarked, acknowledging Ocasio-Cortez's effectiveness in advocating within Democratic circles.
Despite the collaborative spirit, the event could not entirely escape the political tensions currently roiling the House of Representatives. Representative Mace, known for her strong anti-trans stance, posted controversial content targeting Representative Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, highlighting the complex political landscape in which this bipartisan effort is unfolding.
Ocasio-Cortez remained focused on the collective achievement, stating "I think we've all worked together very well on this, I don't think it's about individual credit but as a team." She emphasised that "bipartisanship has been tremendously important" given Republican control of the House, underscoring the practical political considerations driving this unusual alliance between progressive Democrats, conservative Republicans, and celebrity activists.
