House GOP blocks DEFIANCE Act despite Senate passage

House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan has declined to schedule a hearing on the DEFIANCE Act, stalling legislation that passed the Senate by unanimous consent. The bipartisan bill, sponsored by Senators Laurel Lee and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, would establish a federal civil cause of action for victims of nonconsensual AI-generated intimate imagery. Representative Luna cosponsored the companion House measure, which currently lacks a path to floor consideration due to the committee chair's inaction. Critics argue the delay denies victims legal recourse against deepfake pornography proliferation. Supporters maintain the legislation addresses urgent harms from generative AI misuse without imposing broad platform liability. The procedural blockage underscores divergent congressional approaches to AI governance despite rare bipartisan agreement on specific safety measures. No timeline exists for future committee consideration. Jordan’s office has not publicly stated reasons for withholding the hearing.