The record

LegislationLegislation· Jan 2026
S 1837 Passed Senate — in House

Sponsored by Richard J. Durbin (D)

DEFIANCE Act of 2025

Lets people sue over nonconsensual intimate images and AI-generated deepfakes, with up to $250,000 in damages.

Tradeoff

Creates new federal civil lawsuits for victims of deepfake sexual abuse and nonconsensual intimate images. Victims can recover damages, attorney fees, and punitive damages; the bill does not appropriate new funding.

What's in it

See official bill text

Passed the Senate by on January 13, 2026 — sitting in the House.

  1. Senate

    Introduced

    (May 21, 2025)

  2. Senate

    Committee on the Judiciary(May 21, 2025)

  3. Senate

    Passage of the bill

    Passed by (Jan 13, 2026)

    No individual votes were recorded.

  4. Senate

    Taken away from the Committee on the Judiciary

    Discharged(Jan 13, 2026)

  5. House

    Received from the Senate

    Received(Jan 13, 2026)