Paris Hilton & AOC Unite Against AI Deepfake Porn

In a powerful convergence of celebrity influence and legislative action, Paris Hilton and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have joined forces to address a growing digital crisis. The two appeared together at the U.S. Capitol for a press conference, standing side-by-side to advocate for the DEFIANCE Act, a proposed bill targeting the proliferation of AI-generated deepfake pornography.

The collaboration marks a significant moment in the fight against digital abuse, bringing together Hilton's personal advocacy with Ocasio-Cortez's legislative expertise. The event highlighted the urgent need for legal frameworks to catch up with rapidly advancing technology that is being used to create non-consensual sexual imagery.

While the issue affects individuals across all demographics, the partnership underscores how the problem has moved from theoretical concerns to a tangible crisis requiring immediate congressional intervention.

The Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act, or DEFIANCE Act, aims to provide victims with a clear legal pathway for recourse. The bill would establish a civil right of action, empowering individuals to sue both the creators and distributors of AI-generated deepfake porn.

At the press conference, Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the devastating real-world consequences of what some might dismiss as merely digital content. She stated that the harm to victims is very real, noting that women lose their jobs, teenagers are forced to switch schools, and tragically, children have lost their lives as a result of this harassment.

The legislation seeks to address a significant gap in current law. While social media companies have largely been shielded from liability for illegal content shared on their platforms thanks to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, the DEFIANCE Act focuses on holding the individuals who create and spread this harmful content directly accountable.

The emotional core of the press conference came from Paris Hilton, who shared her own traumatic history with non-consensual media. She spoke about having an intimate video of her shared widely online when she was just 19 years old.

People called it a scandal. It wasn't. It was abuse. There were no laws at the time to protect me.

Hilton reflected on the early days of the internet, noting that there weren't even words to describe what had been done to her. She drew a direct parallel between her experience and the current technological landscape, stating that what happened to her is now happening to millions of women and girls in a new and more terrifying way.

Her testimony highlighted the evolution of digital cruelty, from the early days of the internet to the sophisticated AI tools available today. The personal narrative provided a human face to the statistics, illustrating the profound and lasting impact of non-consensual image sharing.

The immediate catalyst for this legislative push is the controversy surrounding Grok, an AI chatbot on the social media platform X. The AI agent began generating sexualized images of people, including minors, in response to user prompts, sparking widespread concern and leading to bans in some countries.

Although X and Grok were not mentioned by name at the press conference, the timing of the bill's promotion is directly linked to this incident. The platform has since taken steps to stop the Grok account from generating sexualized images of real people when tagged, though the capability remains within the app.

Elon Musk, the owner of X, has stated that anyone "using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content." However, the incident has accelerated calls for more robust federal legislation to prevent such abuses before they occur.

Ocasio-Cortez has previously addressed this issue, writing that there is an explosion of AI generating explicit images of children and noting that the problem extends beyond actresses to teenage girls across the country.

The DEFIANCE Act is gaining traction in Congress. It recently passed the Senate by a voice vote, a significant milestone that indicates broad bipartisan support with no senator objecting to the measure.

The bill now faces the House of Representatives. While the timeline for a vote remains unclear, there are signs of support from leadership. Speaker Mike Johnson has recently stated he is "certainly in favor of it."

This effort builds upon recent legislative action regarding digital privacy. In May, President Donald Trump signed the "TAKE IT DOWN Act" into law, which includes a provision requiring platforms to take down AI-generated revenge porn. However, that provision does not fully take effect until May 2026, leaving a gap that the DEFIANCE Act aims to fill more immediately.

It is also not the first time Paris Hilton has advocated for legislation on Capitol Hill. She previously visited Washington in both 2021 and 2023 to push for bills aimed at combating abuse in residential treatment facilities for troubled teens, demonstrating her long-term commitment to advocacy.

The alliance between Paris Hilton and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez represents a critical juncture in the battle against AI-facilitated abuse. By combining personal testimony with legislative action, they have brought national attention to an issue that affects millions.

The DEFIANCE Act represents a potential shift in how the law treats digital consent and privacy. As AI technology continues to evolve, the outcome of this legislation could set a precedent for how society balances innovation with the protection of individual rights.

With the bill having passed the Senate and awaiting House consideration, the coming months will be decisive. The push for the DEFIANCE Act highlights a growing consensus that the digital world must have real-world consequences for those who weaponize technology against others.