Paris Hilton stood at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, and she wasn't there for a photo op. She's become one of the most visible advocates for legislation targeting AI-generated deepfake abuse, and she says this work matters more to her than anything else she's done.

Pushing For The DEFIANCE Act

Hilton joined forces with Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Laurel Lee (R-Fla.) to advocate for the DEFIANCE Act, which stands for Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits. The bipartisan measure would give victims of AI-generated explicit imagery the right to sue whoever creates or distributes the content.

"Coming here to the Capitol, to D.C., and doing my advocacy work — it's truly been the most meaningful work of my life," Hilton told reporters. "I'm just happy to give support and I love that I can come and shine my spotlight on so many causes that are in need of it."

The Senate already passed the bill by unanimous consent, and supporters are now pushing House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to bring it to a floor vote.

Why This Matters To Hilton

For Hilton, 44, this isn't an abstract policy debate. She's speaking from personal experience with nonconsensual intimate imagery.

"When I was 19 years old, a private, intimate video of me was shared with the world without my consent," she said. "People called it a scandal. It wasn't — it was abuse."

Back then, there were essentially no legal protections for victims. Hilton emphasized that the lack of recourse left people powerless, adding, "Too many women are afraid to exist online, or sometimes to exist at all."

Grok Controversy Adds Urgency

While AI deepfake abuse has been a growing problem for years, Elon Musk's Grok chatbot recently put the issue back in the spotlight. The platform generated sexualized images at users' requests this month, sparking public outrage and renewed calls for stronger legislation.

The DEFIANCE Act would expand existing legal protections by targeting not just distribution but also the creation and solicitation of nonconsensual sexual imagery. Victims would gain a private right of action to pursue legal claims.

There's already some legislative groundwork in place. The TAKE IT DOWN Act, signed into law last year with backing from First Lady Melania Trump, requires online platforms to remove child sexual abuse material and nonconsensual intimate images within 48 hours of a victim's request. The DEFIANCE Act would build on that foundation by giving victims more tools to hold perpetrators accountable.