Senate Unanimously Passes DEFIANCE Act Allowing Deepfake Victims to Sue for Up to $150,000

On Jan. 13, 2026, the US Senate unanimously passed the DEFIANCE Act (S.1837), enabling victims of nonconsensual AI-generated sexually explicit deepfakes to sue creators and distributors for up to $150,000 per violation ($250,000 if linked to assault, stalking, or harassment). Sponsored by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), the bill was prompted in part by the Grok AI scandal. The bill was sent to the House after passage.