Nefarious actors are weaponizing deepfake technologies to exploit and shame victims, and it's a growing epidemic for young girls and women.
Paris Hilton stood on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on January 23, 2026, her voice steady but delicate, as she addressed reporters. Hilton wasn’t there to talk about business ventures. She was there as a victim but also as a mother, advocating for justice for herself and the countless women and girls who have become victims of deepfakes.
“When I was 19 years old, a private, intimate video of me was shared with the world without my consent,” Hilton said, flanked by Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Laurel Lee. “People called it a scandal. It wasn’t. It was abuse.”
I remember the video. At the time, I was starting my career as a high school teacher. Cell phones were becoming ubiquitous, which gave rise to the trend of sexting. Images that girls thought they shared privately with someone they trusted spread like wildfire. Incidence of sexting increased dramatically, yet victims were left with little recourse.
As technology has evolved, threats have become more damaging, which is why Hilton urged Congress to pass the DEFIANCE Act, “a bipartisan bill that gives survivors a path to justice.” The legislation would give deepfake victims the right to sue those who create and distribute non-consensual sexually explicit images. The bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support and awaits House consideration. (Read more)
An Epidemic Targeting Women
Digitally altered images, audio, or videos created using artificial intelligence, known as deepfakes, have become a weapon of harassment, largely impacting women and girls. According to research from Reality Defender, upwards of 98% of all deepfake videos online were non-consensual pornography in 2024. According to DeepStrike, a company founded in 2016, deepfake fraud skyrocketed from 500,000 files in 2023 to 8 million files in 2025.
“Since the public release of AI tools, we have seen an absolute explosion in AI-generated images being used to sexually harass victims and children,” said Representative Ocasio-Cortez.
The statistics are staggering. According to a 2025 study conducted by Thorn, a child safety nonprofit organization, one in eight young people aged 13 to 20 said they personally knew a deepfake victim, and one in 17 reported that they have been targeted themselves. Between 40 and 50% of students know of deepfakes circulating at their schools. Additionally, 71% of young creators said they found the technology on social media, with 53% reporting they found the tools through simple online searches. “Nudify” apps openly advertise their services and require little more than a single photo.
Young Victims Speaking Out
Since October 2023, Francesca Mani has been fighting for legislation to protect victims like herself, who learned at 14-years-old that a male classmate had used AI to create sexually explicit deepfake images of her and more than 30 other girls at Westfield High School in New Jersey.
The perpetrator received only a brief suspension. Mani shared her support for the DEFIANCE Act, calling on Congress to, “Pass this now, please, no more waiting while tech outpaces justice.”
The Detection Challenge
Cybersecurity expert Nicole Perlroth, wrote on LinkedIn about deepfake detection noting, “Distinguishing a deepfake from a real person is no longer possible with the human eye. In fact, research shows the more confident you are in your ability to spot a deepfake, the more fallible you are.”
Industry professionals have witnessed this crisis firsthand. As director of content for a cybersecurity company, I have seen deepfake technology’s growth over the past few years, and it is alarming. Both technology and legislation have failed to keep pace with its misuse and abuse, leaving victims vulnerable and perpetrators largely unchecked.
According to Mimecast, a cybersecurity company, “There is a critical gap between consumers’ belief in their own ability to uncover a deepfake and being able to pick one out from the crowd.”
Legislative Action
Advocacy from Hilton, young victims like Francesca, and some legislators in Congress is driving change. Several states including New York, Virginia, California, and Texas have enacted legislation banning sexually explicit deepfakes. What the federal DEFIANCE Act establishes is civil liability for perpetrators. It is a long overdue framework for victim protection.
“I am committed to working with my colleagues in the House to see this legislation enacted. So perpetrators face consequences for their actions, and victims across the country finally have the protections they deserve,” said Representative Lee.
Awareness and Education Initiatives
Paris Hilton said in her address that she stood before the crowd without shame. That’s a powerful message for victims. It is the perpetrators who should feel ashamed, and change can come when victims feel empowered to come forward and know that nefarious actors will be held accountable. Awareness matters.
For victims, Laura Tierney, Founder and CEO of The Social Institute, teaches what she calls the S.H.I.E.L.D. approach. “Stop, take a moment, pause and avoid reacting impulsively and maybe engaging with the person who immediately sent that,” she says. “The second is to huddle and reach out to a trusted adult.”
The fight against deepfake abuse requires action on multiple fronts, including better detection technology and more comprehensive legislation in conjunction with educational programs. Paris Hilton’s advocacy represents a turning point in public awareness. For her, Francesca, and countless others who have experienced this violation, the fight for justice is personal and urgent.