Legis Daily

DEFIANCE Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-1837| Senate 
| Updated: 1/13/2026
Richard J. Durbin

Richard J. Durbin

Democratic Senator

Illinois

Cosponsors (8)
Charles E. Schumer (Democratic)Mike Lee (Republican)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Josh Hawley (Republican)Peter Welch (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill aims to establish and improve civil rights to relief for individuals affected by non-consensual intimate digital forgeries , commonly known as deepfakes. It defines an "intimate digital forgery" as a synthetic visual depiction of an identifiable individual that falsely represents sexually intimate conduct, created using technology like AI, and is indistinguishable from an authentic depiction. The legislation recognizes the profound harms caused to victims, including privacy violations, loss of control over likeness, and severe psychological distress, regardless of whether the forgery is labeled as fake. The bill amends the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, to allow an identifiable individual to bring a civil action against any person who knowingly produced, possessed with intent to disclose, disclosed, or solicited and received an intimate digital forgery without the individual's consent. Victims can recover liquidated damages of $150,000, or $250,000 if the conduct involved sexual assault, stalking, or harassment, along with actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. Courts may also issue equitable relief, such as injunctions to remove the content, and include provisions to protect the plaintiff's privacy, like using a pseudonym or sealing documents. Actions must be filed within 10 years of discovery or the victim turning 18, and the bill does not preempt more protective state or tribal laws.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3696
DEFIANCE Act of 2024
May 21, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-3562
Introduced in House
May 21, 2025
Introduced in Senate
May 21, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S3059-3060)
Jan 13, 2026
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Jan 13, 2026
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S143-147; text: CR S145-146)
Jan 13, 2026
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Jan 13, 2026
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jan 13, 2026
Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Jan 13, 2026
Received in the House.
Jan 13, 2026
Held at the desk.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3696
    DEFIANCE Act of 2024


  • May 21, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-3562
    Introduced in House


  • May 21, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 21, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S3059-3060)


  • January 13, 2026
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • January 13, 2026
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S143-147; text: CR S145-146)


  • January 13, 2026
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • January 13, 2026
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • January 13, 2026
    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • January 13, 2026
    Received in the House.


  • January 13, 2026
    Held at the desk.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 119-3562: DEFIANCE Act of 2025
Advanced technology and technological innovationsAssault and harassment offensesCivil actions and liabilityComputers and information technologyComputer security and identity theftDigital mediaFraud offenses and financial crimesPhotography and imagingPornographyRight of privacySex offenses

DEFIANCE Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-1837| Senate 
| Updated: 1/13/2026
This bill aims to establish and improve civil rights to relief for individuals affected by non-consensual intimate digital forgeries , commonly known as deepfakes. It defines an "intimate digital forgery" as a synthetic visual depiction of an identifiable individual that falsely represents sexually intimate conduct, created using technology like AI, and is indistinguishable from an authentic depiction. The legislation recognizes the profound harms caused to victims, including privacy violations, loss of control over likeness, and severe psychological distress, regardless of whether the forgery is labeled as fake. The bill amends the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, to allow an identifiable individual to bring a civil action against any person who knowingly produced, possessed with intent to disclose, disclosed, or solicited and received an intimate digital forgery without the individual's consent. Victims can recover liquidated damages of $150,000, or $250,000 if the conduct involved sexual assault, stalking, or harassment, along with actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. Courts may also issue equitable relief, such as injunctions to remove the content, and include provisions to protect the plaintiff's privacy, like using a pseudonym or sealing documents. Actions must be filed within 10 years of discovery or the victim turning 18, and the bill does not preempt more protective state or tribal laws.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3696
DEFIANCE Act of 2024
May 21, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-3562
Introduced in House
May 21, 2025
Introduced in Senate
May 21, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S3059-3060)
Jan 13, 2026
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Jan 13, 2026
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S143-147; text: CR S145-146)
Jan 13, 2026
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Jan 13, 2026
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jan 13, 2026
Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Jan 13, 2026
Received in the House.
Jan 13, 2026
Held at the desk.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3696
    DEFIANCE Act of 2024


  • May 21, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-3562
    Introduced in House


  • May 21, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 21, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S3059-3060)


  • January 13, 2026
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • January 13, 2026
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S143-147; text: CR S145-146)


  • January 13, 2026
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • January 13, 2026
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • January 13, 2026
    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • January 13, 2026
    Received in the House.


  • January 13, 2026
    Held at the desk.
Richard J. Durbin

Richard J. Durbin

Democratic Senator

Illinois

Cosponsors (8)
Charles E. Schumer (Democratic)Mike Lee (Republican)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Josh Hawley (Republican)Peter Welch (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 119-3562: DEFIANCE Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Advanced technology and technological innovationsAssault and harassment offensesCivil actions and liabilityComputers and information technologyComputer security and identity theftDigital mediaFraud offenses and financial crimesPhotography and imagingPornographyRight of privacySex offenses