Paris Hilton delivered incredibly emotional testimony on Capitol Hill, advocating for victims of deepfake pornography, and she walked away with a huge endorsement from a leading Republican lawmaker, as per The Hill. Hilton appeared alongside representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, and Laurel Lee, a Republican from Florida, to champion the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act, thankfully nicknamed the DEFIANCE Act.
This legislation is absolutely vital because it would give people who are victimized by nonconsensual deepfake pornography the ability to sue the individuals who produce and distribute that terrifying AI-generated content. The legislation was passed by the Senate last week by unanimous consent. Now, supporters are urging Speaker Johnson to get this bill onto the House floor for a vote immediately.
Hilton’s remarks during the news conference outside the Capitol were sometimes deeply moving. She was later overheard mentioning that she wore sunglasses because she was teary-eyed throughout the event. She connected the current threat of AI deepfakes to her own personal history. “When I was 19 years old, a private, intimate video of me was shared with the world without my consent,” Hilton explained. “People called it a scandal. It wasn’t, it was abuse.”
She pointed out that when that happened, there were no laws in place to protect her
The internet was still new, and the cruelty that came with it was just emerging. Hilton said she knows firsthand how it feels to be afraid to exist online, or even to exist at all. It seems Hilton’s advocacy work is really resonating with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Rep. Lee, who co-sponsored the DEFIANCE Act, praised Hilton’s ability to build consensus and collaboration. When asked if she’d support Hilton adding “representative” to her extensive resume, Lee didn’t hesitate.
Rep. Lee said she is “always thrilled when we have smart, talented, capable women running for the House of Representatives.” She added that she “would be thrilled to add another one to our ranks,” while Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, who critiqued President Trump recently, grinned and nodded in agreement. That’s a massive endorsement, and it shows the respect Hilton has earned through her consistent work in Washington.
Hilton, who is a 44-year-old multi-hyphenate media personality, is currently remaining tight-lipped about whether she’d actually jump into the political ring. She stated that coming to the Capitol to do her advocacy work has been “the most meaningful work of my life.” She’s just happy to give support and shine her spotlight on causes that truly need it.
However, she hasn’t ruled it out completely. In 2024, after spending time advocating on the Hill, she did suggest she might run for office someday. At the time, the entrepreneur and author said that seeing her voice make a difference and shine a spotlight on important issues made her think she “can maybe see that happening.”
Hilton has been a familiar face in D.C. for a few years now. In 2024, she helped push for the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, a major youth welfare measure that was signed into law by then-President Biden that year. After the conference wrapped up, Hilton was swarmed by fans and press before her husband, Carter Reum, guided her through the crowd. Before she left the area, she held up a DEFIANCE Act sign to the camera and gave a quick nod to her signature catchphrase.
“Legislation’s hot,” she said. It sounds like she’s found her true calling.
Published: Jan 23, 2026 10:30 am