United States of America: Introduced Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024 (DEFIANCE Act /HR 7569)

On 6 March 2024, the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act (DEFIANCE Act /HR 7569) was introduced to the House of Representatives. The Act addresses the issue of non-consensual activities involving intimate digital forgeries. Specifically, the Act modifies the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 to define "digital forgery" and introduces provisions for civil action concerning the disclosure of intimate images. The "digital forgery" encompasses visual depictions created using software, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or any other computer-generated or technological methods falsely appearing to be authentic, with the goal of curbing the spread of non-consensual, sexually explicit "deepfakes."These provisions include adjusting civil action procedures such as damages and relief and implementing measures to safeguard privacy, such as allowing the use of pseudonyms and issuing protective orders for discovery. Additionally, the Act establishes a statute of limitations for filing complaints related to these violations.