Washington, DC, Tuesday, August 13, 2024-The US Senate today passed the DEFIANCE Act, which targets non-consensual pornography created through digital forgeries.
The text of the Bill can be reached here.
The bill dubbed DEFIANCE Act (Disrupt Explicit Forged Images And Non-Consensual Edits) aims to provide legal recourse for victims of these harmful and deceptive practices.
The legislation now awaits approval from the House of Representatives before it can be signed into law by President Joe Biden.
The DEFIANCE Act extends the statute of limitations for victims to take legal action against the creators and distributors of deepfake pornography from the standard five years to ten years.
This gives victims more time to seek justice and recover damages. The bill also includes provisions for recovering up to $250,000 in liquidated damages, litigation costs, and actual damages, as well as punitive measures such as injunctions and privacy protections for plaintiffs.
Experts warn that while the DEFIANCE Act is a crucial first step, it only addresses a fraction of the potential harms caused by deepfakes.
One analyst highlighted the need for broader legislation to address deepfakes’ impact on politics, business, and cybersecurity.
Deepfake technology has been increasingly used in disinformation campaigns, political manipulation, and financial fraud, with serious implications for global security and democratic processes.
The act’s passage comes at a time when deepfake technology is becoming more sophisticated and accessible, raising concerns about its potential misuse.
