UK to Criminalize Sexually Explicit Deepfakes Amid Rising Concerns
The UK government announced on January 7, 2025, that it will criminalize the creation and sharing of sexually explicit deepfakes. This decision comes as part of a broader initiative to combat the alarming rise in the misuse of such technology, primarily affecting women and girls. Deepfakes, which are AI-generated images, videos, or audio clips that distort reality, have been increasingly associated with image-based abuse.
According to the UK-based Revenge Porn Helpline, instances of deepfake-related abuse have surged by over 400% since 2017. The justice ministry emphasized that creating a sexually explicit deepfake without consent is inexcusable. Under the proposed legislation, individuals involved in producing or distributing these images could face prosecution and significant penalties.
Previously, the 2015 legislation against "revenge porn" did not encompass scenarios involving fake images. The new laws will also address the unauthorized taking of intimate images and the installation of recording devices with malicious intent, with offenders facing up to two years in prison.
Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones highlighted the seriousness of intimate-image abuse, calling it a national emergency that inflicts lasting harm on victims. The government's upcoming Crime and Policing Bill will include these new offences, with further details to be announced.
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