Paris Hilton recently spoke out about feeling “humiliated” and “ashamed” following the unauthorized release of a sex tape. The video, featuring Paris and her then-boyfriend Rick Salomon, was distributed without her consent when she was 19 years old. Paris, now 44, disclosed the emotional distress she has endured since the incident, labeling it as “abuse.”

During a speech at the United States Capitol in Washington DC, Paris emphasized that the violation she experienced was not a scandal but a form of exploitation due to the lack of legal protection at that time. She highlighted the impact the leak had on her mental well-being and self-esteem, underscoring the challenges faced in the early days of the internet and the prevalence of online cruelty.

Although Paris initially claimed not to have profited from the sex tape, she later sued Rick in 2005 and received a substantial settlement, part of which she intended to donate to charitable causes.

Addressing the issue of cyberbullying and online harassment, Paris condemned the derogatory treatment she received from internet trolls and the commodification of her suffering for online engagement. She expressed the need for victims to be heard and the importance of recognizing the loss of personal agency and dignity resulting from such violations.

Reflecting on her ongoing struggle to reclaim control over her image and reputation, Paris acknowledged the evolving threat posed by deepfake technology, which can create fabricated explicit content without consent. She warned of the proliferation of deepfake pornography and its potential harm to individuals, particularly women and girls.

Advocating for legislative action to combat this growing menace, Paris proposed the DEFIANCE Act, aimed at empowering victims to pursue legal recourse against creators and distributors of AI-generated deepfake pornographic material. She revealed the existence of numerous explicit deepfake images of herself produced through artificial intelligence, illustrating the urgent need for regulatory measures to protect individuals from such digital manipulation.

Paris Hilton’s advocacy for legal safeguards against deepfake exploitation stems from her personal ordeal and underscores the broader societal implications of technological advancements in creating fabricated content without consent.