Congresswoman Claudia Tenney of New York’s 24th District attended a press conference in Washington, DC to support the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits (DEFIANCE) Act. The bipartisan bill, H.R. 3562, aims to strengthen legal protections for individuals affected by non-consensual digital exploitation.
Tenney is a cosponsor of the DEFIANCE Act, which would enable victims to pursue civil action against those who knowingly create, possess, or distribute non-consensual, sexually explicit digital forgeries. The legislation also proposes remedies such as damages and injunctive relief while aiming to protect victims’ privacy.
“Non-consensual digital exploitation destroys lives, reputations, and livelihoods, and too often victims are left without meaningful recourse,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “The DEFIANCE Act gives victims the ability to fight back by holding perpetrators accountable and restoring control over their own likeness and identity. Our laws must keep pace with emerging technology and make clear that exploitation and abuse, whether online or offline, will not be tolerated.”
Tenney has represented New York’s 24th district in Congress since 2021 after replacing Anthony Brindisi. She previously served in the New York State Assembly from 2011 to 2016. Born in New Hartford in 1961, Tenney currently resides in Canandaigua. She holds a BA from Colgate University (1983) and a JD from the University of Cincinnati (1987).
