Paris Hilton addresses nude video leak at 19

Paris Hilton returned to Capitol Hill on Thursday to advocate for stronger protections against non-consensual explicit images.

Speaking alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, she backed the DEFIANCE Act and shared her own experience.

In her speech, Hilton described the unauthorised release of a private video when she was 19 as a form of abuse, not a scandal.

Hilton said the leak occurred at a time when there were no laws or even language to address what had happened to her. She recalled being publicly mocked, shamed, and reduced to a punchline while others profited from her pain. 

According to Hilton, the incident stripped her of control over her body, reputation, and sense of safety.

Although she believed she had moved past the trauma, Hilton said the rise of artificial intelligence has reopened old wounds. She warned that deepfake pornography has created a new and widespread form of exploitation that requires no real images or personal connection. She described the phenomenon as an epidemic affecting millions of women and girls.

Hilton warned that deepfake porn allows fake explicit images to be created without consent or real photos. She said more than 100,000 AI-generated images falsely showing her are online, and each one brings back fear and humiliation.

If passed, the DEFIANCE Act would let victims sue people who create and share AI deepfakes. Hilton said the issue affects millions and stressed the need to protect future generations.