The UK government has introduced new laws to criminalize the creation and sharing of sexually explicit deepfakes, addressing growing concerns over AI misuse. Deepfakes, hyper realistic digital manipulations of photos or videos, are increasingly used to exploit and harm individuals, especially women. Last year, a deepfake of Taylor Swift endorsing Donald Trump’s campaign highlighted how convincing and widespread these manipulations have become.
With advancing technology blurring the line between real and fake, victims often struggle to hold offenders accountable. The new legislation targets both the production and distribution of non-consensual intimate images, with offenders facing up to two years in prison.
Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women, Alex Davies-Jones, stressed the urgency of tackling online abuse, citing that one in three women has faced such harassment. This UK initiative aligns with global efforts, including the EU’s recent measures to combat AI-driven cyber violence.
