Britain is set to make creating and sharing sexually explicit “deepfakes” a criminal offense, as part of new measures aimed at curbing the rising abuse of this technology, which primarily targets women and girls, the government announced on Tuesday.

Deepfakes, digitally altered videos, images, or audio clips created using artificial intelligence to appear authentic, have increasingly been misused to manipulate pornographic content into the likeness of unsuspecting individuals.

Although “revenge porn” – the publication of intimate photos or videos without consent to cause distress – was outlawed in 2015, those laws do not cover fabricated imagery like deepfakes. Data from the UK-based Revenge Porn Helpline reveals that cases involving deepfake abuse have risen by more than 400% since 2017, highlighting the urgency for updated legislation.

Under the proposed new laws, perpetrators who create or share explicit deepfakes without consent could face prosecution and criminal charges. Further, the government plans to introduce separate offenses for taking intimate images without consent and installing equipment with the intent to commit such acts. Individuals found guilty of these offenses could face up to two years in prison.

“There is no excuse for creating a sexually explicit deepfake of someone without their consent,” the Ministry of Justice stated.

These measures will form part of the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill, with additional details to be released in the coming months.

A National Response to Image-Based Abuse

Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones condemned the growing issue, stating, “This demeaning and disgusting form of chauvinism must not become normalized.”

Campaigners, including Jess Davies, emphasized the devastating impact of deepfake abuse. “Intimate-image abuse is a national emergency causing significant, long-lasting harm to women and girls. They face a total loss of control over their digital footprint, at the hands of online misogyny,” she said.

The proposed legislation follows an earlier attempt by the previous Conservative government to introduce similar laws, which would have imposed fines and potential jail time for offenders. However, those plans were not finalized before the Labour Party took power in July.

Tech Platforms Under Pressure

Technology Minister Margaret Jones highlighted the role of tech companies, warning that platforms hosting abusive content will face tougher scrutiny and significant penalties under the new laws. The government has already taken steps to address image-based abuse by amending the Online Safety Act in 2024, requiring platforms to remove harmful content or risk enforcement action by regulators such as Ofcom.

A Step Toward Accountability

The upcoming Crime and Policing Bill is expected to bring clarity and stronger protections for victims of intimate-image abuse, marking a significant step toward addressing the misuse of AI-powered technology in Britain. While the exact date for the bill’s introduction to parliament has not been set, these measures reflect a firm commitment to holding offenders accountable and safeguarding vulnerable individuals from online abuse.

Further updates on the bill and its provisions are expected in the near future.

Source: www.gov.uk