• Paris Hilton joined Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and lawmakers to press the DEFIANCE Act on Capitol Hill.
  • The bill would allow victims of AI-generated sexual images to sue and seek restitution, expanding protections beyond removal laws.
  • Lawmakers point to a surge in nonconsensual images — research found about 23,000 sexualized images of children within 11 days after a major AI tool launched.
  • Advocates say DEFIANCE would complement existing laws like the TAKE IT DOWN Act by adding legal recourse.

H2: Paris Hilton backs DEFIANCE Act on Capitol Hill

Paris Hilton stood with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Republican co-sponsor Rep. Laurel Lee at an event outside the Capitol to urge passage of the DEFIANCE Act. Hilton, lawmakers and survivors of online sexual abuse drew a large crowd as they called for stronger legal tools to respond to nonconsensual AI-generated images.

Hilton recounted a personal experience: when she was 19, a private intimate video of her was shared without consent. “People called it a scandal. It wasn’t. It was abuse,” she told the crowd, urging lawmakers to give victims both removal and legal remedy.

H3: What DEFIANCE would change

The DEFIANCE Act — which passed the Senate by unanimous consent earlier this month — would go beyond current platform-removal requirements. It targets the production, distribution and solicitation of nonconsensual sexualized images created or enhanced by AI and gives individuals the right to sue for damages.

That legal recourse is meant to complement the TAKE IT DOWN Act, the earlier law that requires platforms to remove child sexual abuse material and nonconsensual intimate images within 48 hours of notification. “TAKE IT DOWN gave us removal and DEFIANCE will give us recourse and restitution,” AOC said.

H3: Why lawmakers and advocates say stronger laws are needed

Advocates point to a recent spike in abusive imagery after the launch of new image-generation features in AI tools. Research from the Center for Countering Digital Hate found roughly 23,000 sexualized images of children were generated in the 11 days following the rollout of one major tool. The surge renewed calls for clearer rules and faster enforcement.

Experts and survivors say removal alone is insufficient: victims can lose jobs, face harassment, or be driven from school by the fallout. Sexual Violence Prevention Association CEO Omny Miranda Martone noted that local prosecutors often decline to prioritize these cases, leaving victims with limited options.

H4: What’s next for the bill

Rep. Lee said she is optimistic the House Judiciary Committee will take up the DEFIANCE Act soon and move it toward a full House vote. Advocates say bipartisan support — and high-profile backers such as Paris Hilton and potentially influential voices like former first lady Melania Trump, who supported earlier legislation — will help push momentum.

The White House has also hosted discussions with survivors and experts about AI harms, signaling broader concern at federal levels. As AI image tools advance, lawmakers and advocates say new legal pathways are needed to protect victims and hold creators and distributors of nonconsensual sexual imagery accountable.

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