Zonta International is a global organization of individuals dedicated to building a better world for women and girls. The Zonta USA Advocacy Action Center is a tool for our members in the United States and other individuals who share our commitment to gender equality to take action to improve the lives of women and girls. With your help, we can make a difference..
Gender-based violence is increasingly taking digital forms—and survivors are paying the price. Today, more than 98% of deepfake videos online are pornographic, with the vast majority targeting women and girls. These nonconsensual, sexually explicit images—often created using artificial intelligence—are used to harass, intimidate, and silence victims. Yet despite the real and lasting harm, survivors often have little to no legal recourse to hold perpetrators accountable. In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the law has not kept pace.
The DEFIANCE Act of 2025 seeks to change that. Although the legislation passed unanimously in the Senate in 2024, it stalled in the House. Reintroduced in May 2025 by a bipartisan group of lawmakers—including Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rep. Lee (R-FL), Sen. Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Graham (R-SC)—the bill would establish a clear federal civil right of action for survivors. Specifically, it would allow victims to sue individuals who knowingly create, distribute, solicit, or possess with intent to distribute nonconsensual sexually explicit digital forgeries. It also enables courts to award damages, issue injunctions to remove harmful content, and hold perpetrators financially accountable. As Representative Ocasio-Cortez stated, the legislation ensures “victims…[have] the legal right to pursue justice,” while Representative Lee underscored that even girls as young as 12 are being targeted by this growing form of abuse.
“I am proud to co-lead the bipartisan DEFIANCE Act, which gives victims a civil right of action when predators attempt to use exploitative AI-generated intimate images—so-called deepfakes—to intimidate, shame, or harm them,” said Representative Lee. “The time for action is now. This legislation will complement the TAKE IT DOWN Act, which was recently signed into law. Together, they both create both accountability and recourse.”
The consequences for survivors are severe. As Senator Durbin noted, “although the imagery may be fake, the harm…is very real.” Victims have lost jobs, reputations, and experienced long-term mental health impacts. Without clear legal protections, perpetrators continue to act with relative impunity, exploiting gaps in existing laws that were not designed for AI-generated abuse. The DEFIANCE Act builds on recent progress by directly addressing these gaps and creating meaningful accountability.
This is a critical moment for action. Survivors deserve more than awareness—they deserve justice. Contact your local representative and urge them to support and advance the DEFIANCE Act. Ending digital sexual exploitation requires strong laws, and your voice can help ensure they are passed.
Please use our pre-drafted letters to urge your representative to co-sponsor and support the DEFIANCE Act of 2025 (H.R.3562). If they have already sponsored or co-sponsored the bill, you can send a message of thanks.
The DEFIANCE Act of 2025 seeks to change that. Although the legislation passed unanimously in the Senate in 2024, it stalled in the House. Reintroduced in May 2025 by a bipartisan group of lawmakers—including Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rep. Lee (R-FL), Sen. Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Graham (R-SC)—the bill would establish a clear federal civil right of action for survivors. Specifically, it would allow victims to sue individuals who knowingly create, distribute, solicit, or possess with intent to distribute nonconsensual sexually explicit digital forgeries. It also enables courts to award damages, issue injunctions to remove harmful content, and hold perpetrators financially accountable. As Representative Ocasio-Cortez stated, the legislation ensures “victims…[have] the legal right to pursue justice,” while Representative Lee underscored that even girls as young as 12 are being targeted by this growing form of abuse.
“I am proud to co-lead the bipartisan DEFIANCE Act, which gives victims a civil right of action when predators attempt to use exploitative AI-generated intimate images—so-called deepfakes—to intimidate, shame, or harm them,” said Representative Lee. “The time for action is now. This legislation will complement the TAKE IT DOWN Act, which was recently signed into law. Together, they both create both accountability and recourse.”
The consequences for survivors are severe. As Senator Durbin noted, “although the imagery may be fake, the harm…is very real.” Victims have lost jobs, reputations, and experienced long-term mental health impacts. Without clear legal protections, perpetrators continue to act with relative impunity, exploiting gaps in existing laws that were not designed for AI-generated abuse. The DEFIANCE Act builds on recent progress by directly addressing these gaps and creating meaningful accountability.
This is a critical moment for action. Survivors deserve more than awareness—they deserve justice. Contact your local representative and urge them to support and advance the DEFIANCE Act. Ending digital sexual exploitation requires strong laws, and your voice can help ensure they are passed.
Please use our pre-drafted letters to urge your representative to co-sponsor and support the DEFIANCE Act of 2025 (H.R.3562). If they have already sponsored or co-sponsored the bill, you can send a message of thanks.
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