Overview
- The DEFIANCE Act would create a private right of action allowing victims to sue people who knowingly produce, distribute, solicit, or possess with intent to distribute nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfakes.
- The bill cleared the Senate unanimously in January 2026 but has not received a Judiciary Committee vote in the House.
- House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan has told reporters there is no committee timeline for the measure while he and staff are "talking to" lead sponsor Rep. Laurel Lee.
- Multiple people working on the legislation told reporters that House Republican leaders are withholding action to avoid giving Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a high-profile legislative win.
- Advocates including Paris Hilton and nearly 60 bipartisan House co-sponsors say the stall leaves survivors without a legal path beyond platform takedowns and could drive further public pressure or political fallout on House leaders.