U.K. Government to Make Creation of Sexually Explicit Deepfakes a Criminal Offense

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On Tuesday, the U.K. government led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Labour Party announced plans to outlaw the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes, as part of their efforts to combat abhorrent online behavior.

The rapid increase in the creation and sharing of extremely realistic fake images has become a significant concern, leading to severe consequences for victims, especially women and girls who are frequently the intended targets. To combat this issue, the government plans to establish a new criminal charge, enabling offenders to be prosecuted not just for producing but also distributing these images. This move signifies a firm stance against such reprehensible actions and emphasizes that there is no justification for creating sexually explicit deepfakes without consent.

The proposed penalties for creating sexually explicit deepfakes, set to be included in the government’s Crime and Policing Bill, will encompass not just photographs but also videos or films depicting adults. This is because current laws already address such behavior when the image involves a minor under 18 years old.

The U.K. government announced plans to revise current laws, with potential penalties of up to two years in prison for individuals found guilty of secretly capturing intimate images without permission and equipping devices to facilitate such actions under newly defined offenses.

UK Minister for Victims, Alex Davies-Jones, expressed disapproval saying, “It’s intolerable that one out of every three women has experienced online harassment. This disgraceful and misogynistic behavior should never be allowed to become the norm.

The current administration led by Starmer has shifted its attention towards technological advancements. They’ve recently initiated a discussion, which will run until February 25th, regarding strategies to provide clarity to the creative industries and AI developers about how copyrighted content can be employed in training AI systems. This move aims to foster growth in both sectors by ensuring fair compensation for rights holders while encouraging responsible innovation among AI developers.

According to Davies-Jones, the suggested changes aim to provide law enforcement with a comprehensive set of offenses that can effectively combat the issue of unauthorized sharing of intimate images.

Previously, unauthorized sharing or threatening to share an intimate photo was considered a crime, but only taking such photos was illegal in specific situations like upskirting. However, under the new laws, individuals found guilty of capturing intimate images without consent could face imprisonment for up to two years. Similarly, those who set up devices to secretly capture such photos without consent may also serve up to two years in prison.

Minister Maggie Jones of the U.K.’s Technology Department stated, “The escalating issue of non-consensual sharing of intimate images represents a disturbing pattern that victimizes individuals and fosters an unhealthy digital environment. Such actions are not only cowardly, but they inflict substantial harm, particularly on women and girls who are disproportionately affected. With these fresh regulations, we aim to deliver a clear message: the creation or dissemination of such repugnant images is not just unacceptable, it’s illegal. Tech companies must take responsibility – those hosting this content will face increased oversight and severe consequences.

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2025-01-07 13:24