House Republicans Stall AOC-Backed Deepfake Porn Bill After 48-Hour Takedown Law
Updated
Updated · The Independent · Jul 24
House Republicans Stall AOC-Backed Deepfake Porn Bill After 48-Hour Takedown Law
2 articles · Updated · The Independent · Jul 24
Summary
The DEFIANCE Act has not reached a House Judiciary Committee vote even after clearing the Senate by unanimous consent, leaving AOC’s bipartisan bill to let deepfake porn victims sue producers and distributors stuck in limbo.
Politico reported some Republicans are resisting because Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the lead sponsor and passage would hand the New York Democrat a political win ahead of the midterms.
Mike Johnson has backed the measure, and supporters span Republicans including Laurel Lee, Nancy Mace and Anna Paulina Luna and Democrats including Jamie Raskin and Ro Khanna.
The bill would go beyond the TAKE IT DOWN Act, which requires platforms to remove nonconsensual sexual images within 48 hours, by giving victims a direct civil cause of action.
The fight highlights a broader bipartisan push against AI-generated sexual abuse that has targeted public figures including Ocasio-Cortez and Mace while exposing how election politics can still block cross-party legislation.