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Senate Unanimously Passes DEFIANCE Act on Tuesday to Combat Sexually Explicit Deepfakes

Jul 24, 2024, 01:45 PM

The Senate has unanimously passed the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024 (DEFIANCE Act) on Tuesday, a bill introduced by Senator Dick Durbin. This legislation aims to hold accountable those responsible for the creation and distribution of non-consensual, sexually explicit deepfakes. The bill provides a federal civil remedy for victims identifiable in these digital forgeries, addressing a significant gap in current laws that do not cover such abuses. The DEFIANCE Act seeks to protect individuals, including everyday Americans and celebrities like Taylor Swift and Megan Thee Stallion, from the harmful impacts of AI-generated deepfakes. Senator Durbin has urged the House to pass the bill expediently to give victims the legal tools they need to fight back. The bill addresses a bipartisan concern as the emerging technology has become more accessible and sophisticated.