# 119-s-1837: DEFIANCE Act of 2025

119-s-1837, DEFIANCE Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL); status passed_senate; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1837
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-1837
- Congress: 119
- Title: DEFIANCE Act of 2025
- Status: passed_senate
- Introduced: 2025-05-21
- Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**Would expand civil liability for nonconsensual intimate digital forgeries and intimate visual depictions.** It would let people harmed by AI-made or other falsified intimate images sue for money, seek court orders to remove content, and use privacy protections in court. - Identifiable individuals could bring federal suits when an intimate digital forgery or intimate visual depiction is produced, possessed, disclosed, solicited, or distributed without consent. Plaintiffs may proceed under a pseudonym, request sealed filings, and seek protective orders. The statute of limitations is 10 years from discovery or from turning 18. - Remedies would include monetary damages, injunctive relief such as deletion or cessation orders, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees. The bill sets liquidated damages at $150,000 and $250,000 in specified aggravated circumstances and allows recovery of actual damages and defendant profits under specified proof rules. - The measure defines “intimate digital forgery” as a false visual created by software, artificial intelligence, or other technology that is practically indistinguishable from an authentic depiction. It requires an interstate commerce nexus for actions, preserves State and Tribal authority to adopt at least equally protective laws, and prevents duplicate recovery when the same conduct produced a federal conviction under section 2255.

## Cosponsors (8)

- Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC] (R-SC), 2025-05-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-05-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (I-ME), 2025-05-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] (R-UT), 2025-05-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-05-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2025-05-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] (D-NY), 2025-05-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO] (R-MO), 2025-05-21T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Sue over fake or shared intimate images: benefit, high. If enacted, you would be able to sue over nonconsensual intimate images and AI-made forgeries. It would cover production, possession with intent to share, disclosure, distribution, and solicitation when the person knew or recklessly ignored your lack of consent, and the conduct is in or affects int…
- States keep power and intellectual property unchanged: benefit, low. If enacted, this would not override Federal, State, or Tribal laws on intimate images or digital forgeries. States and Tribes would be able to adopt and enforce equal or stronger protections. If a court struck down part of the Act, the rest would still apply. This would not change copyright, patent…

## Related bills

- 119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for the State of Michigan.
- 119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for the State of California.
- 119-sres-723: A resolution honoring the life of Dirk Arthur Kempthorne, former United States Senator for the State of Idaho.
- 119-sres-585: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of Ben Nighthorse Campbell.
- 119-sres-255: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of former United States Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond of Missouri.
- 119-sres-159: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable John Bennett Johnston, Jr., former Senator for the State of Louisiana.

## Sources
- [119-s-1837 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1837)

## Related
- [119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former S…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-755)
- [119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-739)
- [119-sres-723: A resolution honoring the life of Dirk Arthur Kempthorne, former United States…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-723)
- [119-sres-585: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of Ben Nighthorse Camp…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-585)
- [119-sres-255: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of former United State…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-255)
- [119-sres-159: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable John Bennett Johnston, Jr., for…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-159)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1837 (as of 2026-08-11).