Paris Hilton is once again speaking out against AI-generated deepfake pornography, revealing the sheer scale of the problem she personally faces. The actress, reality star and billionaire heiress shared a video on social media on Tuesday that includes clips from her speech at the Capitol earlier this year, along with new testimony in support of the Defiance Act, a bill that aims to give survivors of non-consensual images generated by AI a legal remedy.
What Paris Hilton said about deepfake images
In the video, Hilton is seen speaking at the Capitol, giving a poignant and personal account of the issue. “Today I know of over 100,000 deepfake images created by AI. None of it is real, none of it is consensual,” he said.Hilton also drew a straight line between the current crisis and its painful history. More than two decades ago, a sex tape featuring her and then-boyfriend Rick Salomon was leaked online without her permission. He later sued the company, which fired him for $30 million, for breach of privacy and emotional distress. Referring to that experience, she said, “My pain was sold to me for clicks, and then I was told to shut up, to move on, even to appreciate the attention.”Her struggle became associated with her role as a mother. “Too many women are afraid to be online or even exist sometimes. Now, I have a daughter. She’s only two and a half years old, and I would go to the ends of the earth to protect her. But I can’t protect her from this. Not yet. And that’s why I’m here. I’m Paris Hilton, a woman, a wife, a mother, a woman who survived, and to protect the woman who told me the truth, I’m a woman who did wrong. Every girl, every survivor now and for the future.“In a separate video, Hilton also reiterated her support for the legislation. “This act would allow victims to go to court and sue because there is no law to regulate it now. I want my children to be in a world that is safe, so I will do everything in my power to help make that happen,” she said.
What is the Defiance Act and what is it for?
The Defiance Act, formally known as the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Nonconsensual Editing Act, is a bipartisan federal bill led by House Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and House Representatives Laurel Lee. The legislation would give victims of non-consensual fake pornography and digital intimate forgery the right to bring civil actions against the perpetrators.Hilton joined two representatives at the Capitol in Washington, DC, in January to support the bill. At the time, Ocasio-Cortez said the legislation was critical because “we’ve seen an absolute explosion in AI-generated images being used to sexually harass victims and children.”As one of the most well-known figures to publicly champion the cause, Hilton’s continued advocacy has helped bring significant attention to the legislation that supporters say has long been needed.
