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Paris Hilton and AOC at an event supporting the DEFIANCE Act, a bill that would create a civil right of action allowing victims of AI-generated deepfake porn to sue the creators and distributors of those images.Heather Diehl/Getty ImagesParis Hilton is teaming up with AOC on a bill to combat AI-generated deepfake porn."While these images may be digital, the harm to victims is very real," Ocasio-Cortez said.The proposed legislation comes after Grok began generating sexualized deepfakes of people on X, leading to backlash.Paris Hilton and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are taking on AI-generated deepfake porn.The hotel heiress and businesswoman traveled to the Capitol on Thursday for a press conference with the New York Democrat and Republican Rep. Laurel Lee of Florida to promote the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act, or DEFIANCE Act.The bill would create a civil right of action allowing victims of AI-generated deepfake porn to sue the creators and distributors of those images."While these images may be digital, the harm to victims is very real," Ocasio-Cortez said. "Women lose their jobs when they are targeted with this, teenagers switch schools, and children lose their lives."Hilton spoke emotionally about having an intimate video of her shared widely online when she was 19."People called it a scandal. It wasn't. It was abuse. There were no laws at the time to protect me," Hilton said. "There weren't even words for what had been done to me. The internet was still new, and so was the cruelty that came with it.""What happened to me then is happening now to millions of women and girls in a new and more terrifying way," Hilton added.Though Elon Musk's X and the AI chatbot Grok were not mentioned by name at the press conference, the push to pass the bill comes after the AI agent began generating sexualized images of people, including minors, in response to prompts from users on X. The AI images spurring widespread concerns and even bans on Grok in some countries.X has since stopped the Grok account from generating sexualized images of real people when tagged on the social network — though you can still do so using the app. Elon Musk, the owner of X, has said that anyone "using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content.""There is an explosion of AI generating explicit images of children," Ocasio-Cortez wrote earlier this month in response to news coverage of the Grok-generated images. "And it's not just actresses. Across the country, more and more teenage girls are becoming victims of deepfake harassment. Congress must step in and pass my DEFIANCE Act to ensure victims can seek justice."Social media companies have largely been shielded from being held legally liable for illegal content shared on their platforms thanks to Section 230 of The Communications Decency Act of 1996, though the provision has come under fire from both Republicans and Democrats in the last decade. The DEFIANCE Act passed the Senate last week by a voice vote, meaning no senator objected. It remains unclear when the bill will come up for a vote in the Senate, though Speaker Mike Johnson told The Independent recently that he's "certainly in favor of it."In May, President Donald Trump signed the "TAKE IT DOWN Act" into law, which includes a provision requiring platforms to take down AI-generated revenge porn. That provision doesn't fully take effect until May 2026.This isn't the first time Hilton has come to Capitol Hill to advocate for a piece of legislation.In both 2021 and 2023, she came to Washington to push for the passage of a bill aimed at combating abuse in residential treatment facilities for troubled teens.Read the original article on Business Insider

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn moreJoseph Okpako/WireImageBritish pop and soul star Sam Smith is back on the road in 2026 with a series of concerts and a special residency run, marking one of the year's most anticipated live music events. After a run of shows in late 2025 that included an extended 'To Be Free' residency in Brooklyn, Smith has expanded their performance schedule into February and March 2026 with a residency at San Francisco's historic Castro Theatre — part of the venue's grand reopening. Here's how to get Sam Smith tickets before the residency kicks off. Sam Smith — who rose to international fame with the smash hits Latch (with Disclosure) and later solo singles like "Stay With Me," "Too Good at Goodbyes," and "Unholy" — is one of the most acclaimed British singer‑songwriters of their generation. They've won multiple Grammy Awards, Brit Awards, and an Oscar for the James Bond theme "Writing's on the Wall," and their soulful voice and emotive lyrics have made them a global favorite. Smith first broke through in 2012 and has since sold millions of albums worldwide, earning a reputation for powerful live performances that deeply connect with audiences.Whether it's the intimate vibe of a theatre residency or a larger arena run, Sam Smith's 2026 shows promise to be unforgettable, blending emotional depth with vocal mastery for longtime fans and new listeners alike. Find tickets now on StubHub and Vivid Seats.Sam Smith's 2026 residency scheduleFans interested in Sam Smith tickets will find that listings can vary by date and demand, and advance registration for presales or fan club alerts can help secure seats before general on‑sales begin. Verified resale sites like StubHub and Vivid Seats also list tickets and VIP packages for sold‑out shows, though prices often fluctuate with availability and popularity.February 10, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreFebruary 11, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreFebruary 13, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreFebruary 14, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreFebruary 17, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreFebruary 18, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreFebruary 20, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreFebruary 21, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreFebruary 24, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreFebruary 25, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreFebruary 27, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreFebruary 28, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreMarch 3, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreMarch 4, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreMarch 6, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreMarch 7, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreMarch 10, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreMarch 11, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreMarch 13, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreMarch 14, 2026 — San Francisco, CA at The Castro TheatreBrowse Sam Smith tickets on StubHub and Vivid Seats.How much are Sam Smith tickets?If you're thinking about seeing Sam Smith live during the To Be Free: San Francisco residency, resale ticket prices on sites like StubHub and Vivid Seats can vary widely depending on the date and seat location. On Vivid Seats, you'll find some of the more affordable options starting around $145 to $170 for upper‑level or balcony tickets for shows at the Castro Theatre, though prices can creep higher as demand picks up.On the higher end, premium seats or popular date listings can push well above that — many resale prices for Castro Theatre shows reach $900‑plus for better views, with some deals even approaching or exceeding…

Elon Musk made his first-ever appearance at Davos where he joked about Greenland, and discussed the future of AI and humanoid robots.Read the original article on Business Insider

Community donations at Smitten Kitten (left and right), and BabyBel Mozzarella the cat (middle), are supporting Minnesotans.Mikayla Stanek (Smitten Kitten); Vanessa Beardsley (Catzen)January is typically a slow month for retailers — a time for restocking, chores, and tax prep.This year, small businesses in the Minneapolis area have thrown that out the window.They're offering aid during heightened ICE activity; some will close for Friday's economic blackout.January is typically a quiet month at Mischief Toys in St. Paul, Minnesota.Owner Dan Marshall said he usually spends it cleaning up after Christmas, painting the walls, and doing his taxes.This year, though, "that's not what we're being called to do," said Marshall, who co-owns the toy and game store with his wife and daughter. Instead, he estimates that the store has distributed around 4,000 3D printed whistles, which Minnesotans have been using as an alert and protest system against ICE. Marshall said that the store has also served as a space for the community to come in, relax, and process what they've been seeing."Retail feels totally different right now," Marshall said. "It feels like a way of connecting with our community that we haven't really felt before. It's very raw."It's part of what Minneapolis-area business owners hope is a temporary abandonment of business-as-usual. Since December, the Department of Homeland Security's Operation Metro Surge has poured ICE agents into Minnesota. Rising tensions following officer Jonathan Ross's fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Gold on January 7 have further turned a normally chill month into a flurry of whistle-distributing and community aid. For small business owners in Minnesota, it's been an eventful — and not necessarily lucrative — January, as they instead turn their attention to supporting their communities.Many businesses are also opting into a possible income hit on January 23, when unions and faith leaders are calling for a suspension of work, school, and shopping to protest ICE's actions. Local news site Bring Me The News compiled a growing list of over 200 local establishments' social media posts about their plans to participate in the economic blackout day. Some have said they plan to donate that day's revenue; others are shuttering completely or opening as a free community space.DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a January 20 press release, "Since President Trump took office, DHS has arrested over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens in Minnesota, and we are NOT slowing down. Our law enforcement officers are saving countless American lives." ICE did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.In a statement, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said that the Trump administration's immigration operations "have resulted in countless dangerous criminal illegals being removed from the streets.""Making American communities safer will create an environment in which all businesses can thrive in the long term and their customers can feel safe," Jackson said.Catzen Coffee, a specialty coffee shop with an attached cat lounge, will not be doing business on Friday, but plans to open for those who need a space to hang out — free coffee and cat cuddles included.Catzen owner Vanessa Beardsley said that the irony of being a business owner and opting out of business for a day never crossed her mind; not making revenue was never part of the calculus."We've got to do what we can do right now," Beardsley said. Have a story to tell? Reach out to this reporter at jkaplan@businessinsider.com. A topsy-turvy January"January always sucks," Matt Cole, the owner of Oh Yeah! Cookie Company, said. "As a business owner, especially in retail business, people spend a lot of money in December and November, and they usually don't spend a lot of money in…