DEFIANCE Act of 2025

The Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits (DEFIANCE) Act of 2025 proposes to establish a federal civil right of action for individuals depicted in non-consensual, sexually explicit digital forgeries. If enacted, the bill would allow survivors to sue those who knowingly produce, distribute, or possess with intent to distribute AI-generated or digitally altered intimate images of them without their consent. This aims to provide a consistent federal legal path for victims who currently rely on a varying patchwork of state-level protections.

Under the proposal, victims could seek significant financial compensation, including liquidated damages of up to $150,000, or up to $250,000 if the deepfake is linked to other crimes like stalking or sexual assault. The bill also includes privacy protections that would allow plaintiffs to use pseudonyms in court to prevent further reputational harm. Additionally, it would establish a 10-year statute of limitations, giving survivors a decade from the time they discover the violation to file a lawsuit.

For everyday citizens, this legislation would provide a direct legal tool to hold perpetrators accountable for the creation and spread of harmful deepfake pornography. While it does not automatically remove content from the internet, it aims to deter the production of such images by creating severe financial consequences for those who exploit others through digital manipulation. The bill is intended to complement existing laws that require social media platforms to remove non-consensual content upon request.