Creating sexually explicit ‘deepfakes’ of adults is about to become a criminal offence under the Online Safety Act 2023 as the Government seek to combat the rising growth of online abuse.
‘Deepfakes’ are images, videos or audio clips that have been digitally altered to look real by, for example, using artificial intelligence to turn a pornographic image into the likeness of someone else.
Data from UK-based Revenge Porn Helpline shows that image-based abuse using deepfakes has increased more than 400% since 2017.
But now perpetrators who create sexually explicit deepfakes without consent could face up to two years behind bars.
Technology Minister Baroness Jones said: “The rise of intimate image abuse is a horrifying trend that exploits victims and perpetuates a toxic online culture. These acts are not just cowardly, they are deeply damaging, particularly for women and girls who are disproportionately targeted.
“With these new measures, we’re sending an unequivocal message: creating or sharing these vile images is not only unacceptable but criminal. Tech companies need to step up too – platforms hosting this content will face tougher scrutiny and significant penalties.”
Predators who create sexually explicit ‘deepfakes’ – images or videos digitally altered to appear real – without consent could face criminal prosecution under new offences.
— Ministry of Justice (@MoJGovUK) January 7, 2025
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The Government will also introduce new offences that criminalise people who take or record intimate images or videos without consent or install equipment that enables someone to commit such offences.
According to Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones, one in three women have been affected by online abuse.
He said: “This demeaning and disgusting form of chauvinism must not become normalised, and as part of our Plan for Change we are bearing down on violence against women – whatever form it takes.
“These new offences will help prevent people being victimised online. We are putting offenders on notice – they will face the full force of the law.”
It is already illegal to create deepfakes of children, hence the new offences only apply to images of adults.
Campaigner and presenter Jess Davies called the creation of deepfakes a “national emergency”.
She said: “We need urgent action and legislation to better protect women and girls from the mammoth scale of misogyny they are experiencing online.”
The Ministry of Justice said the new offences will be included in the Government’s Crime and Policing Bill and introduced “when parliamentary time allows”.
Featured image: Julie Mariotti
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