United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 29 D · 27 R cosponsors

HR 3562 — DEFIANCE Act of 2025

Last action — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced May 21, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 56 sponsors

    1 primary, 55 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (29 D · 27 R) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Disrupt Explicit Forged Images And Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2025 or the DEFIANCE Act of 2025This bill expands civil remedies for the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images (i.e., nonconsensual pornography). The bill also establishes a new federal civil action for nonconsensual conduct involving intimate digital forgeries (i.e., deepfakes). The term intimate digital forgery means any intimate visual depiction of an identifiable individual created using software, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or other computer-generated or technological means that looks authentic.With respect to the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images, current law allows an identifiable individual to recover civil remedies, including litigation costs, damages, and injunctive relief. This bill increases the available damages by allowing the individual to recover punitive damages and by including, as part of actual damages, profits of the defendant that are attributable to the conduct at issue.The bill also allows an identifiable individual who is the subject of an intimate digital forgery to file a federal civil action against anyone who knowingly discloses, produces or possesses with intent to disclose, or solicits and receives the intimate digital forgery without the individual's consent. Under the bill, the identifiable individual may recover the same expanded civil remedies that are available for the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images.Finally, the bill establishes a 10-year statute of limitations for filing civil actions involving nonconsensual intimate digital forgeries or nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images. The statute begins to run when the individual discovers the violation or turns 18, whichever is later.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

9 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill expands legal protections against non-consensual intimate visual depictions by including provisions for intimate digital forgeries and clarifying definitions related to consent and identifiable individuals.

  • 15 U.S.C. 6851

    Civil action → SEC. 3. CIVIL ACTION RELATING TO DISCLOSURE OF INTIMATE IMAGES.

    The section heading is amended to include non-consensual activities involving digital forgeries.

  • 15 U.S.C. 6851(a)

    The term “consent” means an affirmative, conscious, and voluntary authorization made by the individual free from force, fraud, misrepresentation, or coercion. → The term “consent” means an affirmative, conscious, competent, and voluntary authorization made by the individual free from force, fraud, misrepresentation, or coercion.

    The definition of consent is clarified to include 'competent'.

  • 15 U.S.C. 6851(a)

    Depicted individual means... → Identifiable individual means an individual whose body appears in whole or in part in an intimate visual depiction or intimate digital forgery...

    The definition of 'depicted individual' is replaced with 'identifiable individual' and now includes intimate digital forgeries.

  • 15 U.S.C. 6851(a)

    The term “intimate visual depiction” means a visual depiction, as that term is defined in section 2256(5) of title 18, that depicts... → The term ‘intimate digital forgery’ means any intimate visual depiction of an identifiable individual that falsely represents,...

    A new definition for 'intimate digital forgery' is added, allowing for legal action on digitally manipulated intimate images.

  • 15 U.S.C. 6851(b)

    an individual whose intimate visual depiction is disclosed... → an identifiable individual whose intimate visual depiction is disclosed...

    Clarifies that only identifiable individuals can bring a civil action regarding intimate visual depictions and allows action for intimate digital forgeries.

  • 15 U.S.C. 6851(b)

    the legal guardian of the individual or representative of the identifiable individual’s estate... → the legal guardian of the identifiable individual or representative of the identifiable individual’s estate...

    Revises references to ensure that legal guardianship aligns with the new definition of 'identifiable individual'.

  • 15 U.S.C. 6851(b)

    the fact that the individual consented to the creation of the depiction shall not establish that the person consented to its distribution; → the fact that the identifiable individual consented to the creation of the depiction shall not establish that the identifiable individual consented to its disclosure, solicitation, or possession;

    Clarifies legal consent in terms of the disclosure and possession of both intimate visual depictions and intimate digital forgeries.

  • 15 U.S.C. 6851(b)(3)

    the actual damages sustained by the individual or liquidated damages in the amount of $150,000... → the cost of the action, including reasonable attorney fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred.

    Changes the framework for recovering costs by introducing provisions for punitive damages and specific conditions under which heightened damages apply.

  • $250,000 if the conduct at issue in the claim was committed in relation to actual or attempted sexual assault, stalking, or harassment of the identifiable individual by the defendant;

    Establishes a higher liquidated damage amount for claims related to sexual misconduct.

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 55 co-sponsors · 491 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (55)

Not signed on (491)

491 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 491 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

public-safety civil-rights technology
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 3562 do?
Disrupt Explicit Forged Images And Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2025 or the DEFIANCE Act of 2025This bill expands civil remedies for the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images (i.e., nonconsensual pornography). The bill also establishes a new federal civil action for nonconsensual conduct involving intimate digital forgeries (i.e., deepfakes). The term intimate digital forgery means any intimate visual depiction of an identifiable individual created using software, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or other computer-generated or technological means that looks authentic.With respect to the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images, current law allows an identifiable individual to recover civil remedies, including litigation costs, damages, and injunctive relief. This bill increases the available damages by allowing the individual to recover punitive damages and by including, as part of actual damages, profits of the defendant that are attributable to the conduct at issue.The bill also allows an identifiable individual who is the subject of an intimate digital forgery to file a federal civil action against anyone who knowingly discloses, produces or possesses with intent to disclose, or solicits and receives the intimate digital forgery without the individual's consent. Under the bill, the identifiable individual may recover the same expanded civil remedies that are available for the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images.Finally, the bill establishes a 10-year statute of limitations for filing civil actions involving nonconsensual intimate digital forgeries or nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images. The statute begins to run when the individual discovers the violation or turns 18, whichever is later.
Who sponsors HR 3562?
HR 3562 is sponsored by Lee, Laurel M. (Republican), Cammack, Kat (Republican), Deluzio, Christopher R. (Democratic), Dingell, Debbie (Democratic), Lawler, Michael (Republican), Lieu, Ted (Democratic), Mace, Nancy (Republican), Miller, Max L. (Republican), Raskin, Jamie (Democratic), Pettersen, Brittany (Democratic), Van Drew, Jefferson (Republican), Velázquez, Nydia M. (Democratic), Fitzpatrick, Brian K. (Republican), Tenney, Claudia (Republican), Crockett, Jasmine (Democratic), Malliotakis, Nicole (Republican), Gottheimer, Josh (Democratic), Edwards, Chuck (Republican), Correa, J. Luis (Democratic), Carey, Mike (Republican), Harder, Josh (Democratic), Gooden, Lance (Republican), Grijalva, Adelita S. (Democratic), Luna, Anna Paulina (Republican), Ansari, Yassamin (Democratic), Kean, Thomas H. (Republican), Tlaib, Rashida (Democratic), Evans, Dwight (Democratic), McBride, Sarah (Democratic), Moran, Nathaniel (Republican), Moskowitz, Jared (Democratic), Houchin, Erin (Republican), Landsman, Greg (Democratic), Bost, Mike (Republican), Norton, Eleanor Holmes (Democratic), De La Cruz, Monica (Republican), Costa, Jim (Democratic), Letlow, Julia (Republican), Khanna, Ro (Democratic), Timmons, William R. (Republican), Auchincloss, Jake (Democratic), Buchanan, Vern (Republican), Davis, Donald G. (Democratic), Miller-Meeks, Mariannette (Republican), Watson Coleman, Bonnie (Democratic), Wagner, Ann (Republican), Titus, Dina (Democratic), Bresnahan, Robert P. (Republican), Panetta, Jimmy (Democratic), LaLota, Nick (Republican), Foushee, Valerie P. (Democratic), Steube, W. Gregory (Republican), Dean, Madeleine (Democratic), Garbarino, Andrew R. (Republican), Suozzi, Thomas R. (Democratic), and Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 3562?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced May 21, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HR 3562?
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