DEFIANCE Act of 2025
U.S. Congress · HR3562 ·
Progression
Timing in context
Primary sponsor's contributions received (same period)
Adjacency in time is shown for context; it is not evidence of cause. Funded ≠ false — see the methodology.
What the bill says
Introduced 2025-05-21. Latest action: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Summary (plain-language)
Disrupt Explicit Forged Images And Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2025 or the DEFIANCE Act of 2025 This bill expands civil remedies for the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images (i.e., nonconsensual pornography). The bill also establishes a new federal civil action for nonconsensual conduct involving intimate digital forgeries (i.e., deepfakes). The term intimate digital forgery means any intimate visual depiction of an identifiable individual created using software, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or other computer-generated or technological means that looks authentic. With respect to the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images, current law allows an identifiable individual to recover civil remedies, including litigation costs, damages, and injunctive relief. This bill increases the available damages by allowing the individual to recover punitive damages and by including, as part of actual damages, profits of the defendant that are attributable to the conduct at issue. The bill also allows an identifiable individual who is the subject of an intimate digital forgery to file a federal civil action against anyone who knowingly discloses, produces or possesses with intent to disclose, or solicits and receives the intimate digital forgery without the individual's consent. Under the bill, the identifiable individual may recover the same expanded civil remedies that are available for the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images. Finally, the bill establishes a 10-year statute of limitations for filing civil actions involving nonconsensual intimate digital forgeries or nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images. The statute begins to run when the individual discovers the violation or turns 18, whichever is later.
Sponsors
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (primary)
- Jake Auchincloss
- Yassamin Ansari
- Vern Buchanan
- Mike Bost
- Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr.
- Kat Cammack
- Jim Costa
- J. Luis Correa
- Mike Carey
- Jasmine Crockett
- Donald G. Davis
- Christopher R. Deluzio
- Monica De La Cruz
- Debbie Dingell
- Madeleine Dean
- Chuck Edwards
- Dwight Evans
- Brian K. Fitzpatrick
- Valerie P. Foushee
- Josh Gottheimer
- Lance Gooden
- Andrew R. Garbarino
- Adelita S. Grijalva
- Josh Harder
- Erin Houchin
- Ro Khanna
- Thomas H. Kean, Jr.
- Ted Lieu
- Julia Letlow
- Anna Paulina Luna
- Laurel M. Lee
- Nick LaLota
- Michael Lawler
- Greg Landsman
- Nancy Mace
- Nicole Malliotakis
- Blake D. Moore
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks
- Jared Moskowitz
- Max L. Miller
- Nathaniel Moran
- Sarah McBride
- Eleanor Holmes Norton
- Jimmy Panetta
- Brittany Pettersen
- Deborah K. Ross
- Jamie Raskin
- Thomas R. Suozzi
- W. Gregory Steube
- Dina Titus
- Claudia Tenney
- William R. Timmons IV
- Rashida Tlaib
- Nydia M. Velázquez
- Jefferson Van Drew
- Ann Wagner
- Bonnie Watson Coleman
Text versions
- Introduced in House — 2025-05-21 — XML
What analysts say
No nonpartisan analysis on file for this measure yet.
What politicians say
No linked claims or utterances yet — no one on record has cited this measure to justify a public argument.
Action History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 2025-05-21 | Introduced in House |
| 2025-05-21 | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. |