Legis Daily

DEFIANCE Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-3562| House 
| Updated: 5/21/2025
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Democratic Representative

New York

Cosponsors (53)
Dwight Evans (Democratic)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)Jefferson Van Drew (Republican)Lance Gooden (Republican)Greg Landsman (Democratic)Mike Carey (Republican)Claudia Tenney (Republican)Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Republican)Jimmy Panetta (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)William R. Timmons (Republican)Dina Titus (Democratic)Debbie Dingell (Democratic)Madeleine Dean (Democratic)Donald G. Davis (Democratic)Nathaniel Moran (Republican)Jake Auchincloss (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Anna Paulina Luna (Republican)Jasmine Crockett (Democratic)Ann Wagner (Republican)Nancy Mace (Republican)Kat Cammack (Republican)Adelita S. Grijalva (Democratic)Brittany Pettersen (Democratic)Josh Harder (Democratic)W. Gregory Steube (Republican)Laurel M. Lee (Republican)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Jim Costa (Democratic)Julia Letlow (Republican)Mike Bost (Republican)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)Sarah McBride (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Max L. Miller (Republican)Monica De La Cruz (Republican)Jared Moskowitz (Democratic)Chuck Edwards (Republican)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Michael Lawler (Republican)Nick LaLota (Republican)Robert P. Bresnahan (Republican)Erin Houchin (Republican)Valerie P. Foushee (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Nicole Malliotakis (Republican)Vern Buchanan (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, known as the DEFIANCE Act of 2025, creates a new federal civil cause of action to provide relief for individuals affected by non-consensual intimate digital forgeries and the disclosure of intimate visual depictions. It addresses the growing problem of deepfakes and other AI-generated content that falsely portrays individuals in sexually intimate situations. The legislation aims to empower victims who currently face significant challenges in seeking redress for these harms. A key provision of the bill is the explicit definition of an "intimate digital forgery." This refers to any intimate visual depiction of an identifiable individual that falsely represents the individual or the intimate conduct, is created using artificial intelligence or similar technology, and appears indistinguishable from an authentic depiction to a reasonable person. Crucially, the bill specifies that labels, disclosures, or context indicating the visual depiction is not authentic do not negate its classification as an intimate digital forgery. The bill allows an identifiable individual to bring a civil action against anyone who knowingly produced, possessed with intent to disclose, disclosed, or solicited an intimate digital forgery without their consent. It also covers the non-consensual disclosure of intimate visual depictions. This expands the scope of accountability for those involved in creating and disseminating such harmful content. Victims can seek substantial relief, including liquidated damages of $150,000 , or $250,000 if the conduct is linked to sexual assault, stalking, or harassment. Additionally, courts can award actual damages, punitive damages, and equitable relief such as temporary restraining orders or permanent injunctions to compel the deletion or destruction of the content. The bill also includes provisions to protect victim privacy during litigation, allowing for pseudonyms and the sealing of personal information.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-7569
DEFIANCE Act of 2024
May 21, 2025
Introduced in House
May 21, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 13, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-1837
Held at the desk.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-7569
    DEFIANCE Act of 2024


  • May 21, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • May 21, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • January 13, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-1837
    Held at the desk.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 119-1837: DEFIANCE Act of 2025
Advanced technology and technological innovationsAssault and harassment offensesCivil actions and liabilityComputers and information technologyComputer security and identity theftDigital mediaFraud offenses and financial crimesPhotography and imagingPornographyRight of privacySex offenses

DEFIANCE Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-3562| House 
| Updated: 5/21/2025
This bill, known as the DEFIANCE Act of 2025, creates a new federal civil cause of action to provide relief for individuals affected by non-consensual intimate digital forgeries and the disclosure of intimate visual depictions. It addresses the growing problem of deepfakes and other AI-generated content that falsely portrays individuals in sexually intimate situations. The legislation aims to empower victims who currently face significant challenges in seeking redress for these harms. A key provision of the bill is the explicit definition of an "intimate digital forgery." This refers to any intimate visual depiction of an identifiable individual that falsely represents the individual or the intimate conduct, is created using artificial intelligence or similar technology, and appears indistinguishable from an authentic depiction to a reasonable person. Crucially, the bill specifies that labels, disclosures, or context indicating the visual depiction is not authentic do not negate its classification as an intimate digital forgery. The bill allows an identifiable individual to bring a civil action against anyone who knowingly produced, possessed with intent to disclose, disclosed, or solicited an intimate digital forgery without their consent. It also covers the non-consensual disclosure of intimate visual depictions. This expands the scope of accountability for those involved in creating and disseminating such harmful content. Victims can seek substantial relief, including liquidated damages of $150,000 , or $250,000 if the conduct is linked to sexual assault, stalking, or harassment. Additionally, courts can award actual damages, punitive damages, and equitable relief such as temporary restraining orders or permanent injunctions to compel the deletion or destruction of the content. The bill also includes provisions to protect victim privacy during litigation, allowing for pseudonyms and the sealing of personal information.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-7569
DEFIANCE Act of 2024
May 21, 2025
Introduced in House
May 21, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 13, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-1837
Held at the desk.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-7569
    DEFIANCE Act of 2024


  • May 21, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • May 21, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • January 13, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-1837
    Held at the desk.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Democratic Representative

New York

Cosponsors (53)
Dwight Evans (Democratic)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)Jefferson Van Drew (Republican)Lance Gooden (Republican)Greg Landsman (Democratic)Mike Carey (Republican)Claudia Tenney (Republican)Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Republican)Jimmy Panetta (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)William R. Timmons (Republican)Dina Titus (Democratic)Debbie Dingell (Democratic)Madeleine Dean (Democratic)Donald G. Davis (Democratic)Nathaniel Moran (Republican)Jake Auchincloss (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Anna Paulina Luna (Republican)Jasmine Crockett (Democratic)Ann Wagner (Republican)Nancy Mace (Republican)Kat Cammack (Republican)Adelita S. Grijalva (Democratic)Brittany Pettersen (Democratic)Josh Harder (Democratic)W. Gregory Steube (Republican)Laurel M. Lee (Republican)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Jim Costa (Democratic)Julia Letlow (Republican)Mike Bost (Republican)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)Sarah McBride (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Max L. Miller (Republican)Monica De La Cruz (Republican)Jared Moskowitz (Democratic)Chuck Edwards (Republican)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Michael Lawler (Republican)Nick LaLota (Republican)Robert P. Bresnahan (Republican)Erin Houchin (Republican)Valerie P. Foushee (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Nicole Malliotakis (Republican)Vern Buchanan (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 119-1837: DEFIANCE Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Advanced technology and technological innovationsAssault and harassment offensesCivil actions and liabilityComputers and information technologyComputer security and identity theftDigital mediaFraud offenses and financial crimesPhotography and imagingPornographyRight of privacySex offenses