• Paris Hilton joined Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Laurel Lee to call for passage of the DEFIANCE Act.
  • The bill would allow victims to sue over production, distribution or solicitation of nonconsensual AI sexual images.
  • Concerns rose after Grok’s image tool generated thousands of sexualized images of minors in days after launch.
  • Advocates say the bill would complement last year’s TAKE IT DOWN law by adding legal recourse and restitution.

Paris Hilton amplifies survivors’ call for legal recourse

Paris Hilton stood on Capitol Hill Thursday with lawmakers, survivors and advocates to press Congress to pass the DEFIANCE Act, a bill that would make it easier for victims of AI-generated deepfakes and other nonconsensual sexual images to sue those responsible. Hilton recounted that a private video of her was shared without her consent when she was 19, calling the episode abuse, not a scandal.

What the DEFIANCE Act would do

The legislation—co-sponsored by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D‑N.Y.) and Rep. Laurel Lee (R‑Ohio)—would expand victims’ legal options by targeting the production, distribution and solicitation of nonconsensual intimate imagery. The bill recently passed the Senate by unanimous consent and now awaits action in the House Judiciary Committee.

How this fits with existing law

Last year’s TAKE IT DOWN Act requires platforms to remove child sexual abuse material and nonconsensual intimate images within 48 hours of notification. Supporters say DEFIANCE builds on that by giving survivors the right to sue for damages and pursue restitution.

Technology and the spike in harm

Advocates and researchers point to a surge in sexualized images targeting women and children produced with generative AI. New research from the Center for Countering Digital Hate found roughly 23,000 sexualized images of children were generated in the 11 days after X’s Grok chatbot added an image tool—fanning concerns about how companies police harmful content.

“They sold my pain for clicks,” Hilton said at the event, describing the long harm inflicted by nonconsensual sharing. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez added, “TAKE IT DOWN gave us removal and DEFIANCE will give us recourse and restitution.”

Voices from survivors and advocates

Survivors of online sexual abuse joined the event, telling lawmakers they still face barriers when reporting harms. Omny Miranda Martone, CEO of the Sexual Violence Prevention Association, said many prosecutors treat these cases as low priority, leaving victims without meaningful remedies.

Next steps in Congress

Rep. Lee said she is optimistic the House Judiciary Committee will take up the bill soon. If approved by the committee, the measure would move to a full House vote. Supporters are also urging prominent voices—including former advocates behind earlier legislation—to help push the bill across the finish line.

The White House discussed AI harms in a separate roundtable with victims earlier the same day, signaling broader executive-level concern about the rapid rise of AI-generated sexual content and the need for stronger legal protections.

As lawmakers debate details, Hilton and lawmakers are centering victims’ stories to argue that policy must match the fast pace of AI innovation to prevent further abuse.

Image Referance: https://www.axios.com/2026/01/22/paris-hilton-aoc-fight-ai-porn