Creating deepfake porn is about to become illegal

How will the law crack down on deepfakes?

Last year, the UK introduced a ‘world-leading’ Online Safety Act and claimed it would make children and adults safer online.

Still, it only went as far as criminalising the distribution or sharing of deepfake pornography.

This created a loophole where individuals could continue creating deepfake porn featuring others without their consent. To avoid legal recourse, creators could simply claim that they did not intend to distribute or share the content with anyone else.

Under the new law, introduced by Conservative MP Laura Farris and the Ministry of Justice, the creation of deepfake pornography is unlawful – full stop.  

Anyone who does so will be punishable with an unlimited fine as well as a criminal record. If the person goes on to share the image or video, they risk facing an increased sentence as well as time in prison.

GLAMOUR magazine and members of organisations working to help victims of online abuse have welcomed the new legislation, calling deepfakes an ‘invisible threat that pervades the lives of all women and girls.’

the fact that the first thing men do when given any form of new technology is to harm women is so insanely scary and realistic. AI has single-handedly sent back women’s rights and safety behind decades. i hate all of you. https://t.co/uX1kV4gwiv

— s (@yoongienthusias) April 16, 2024

Why it’s important that deepfakes are being taken seriously

The new legislation is a huge step forward not just for online safety, but in protecting women’s rights to bodily autonomy.

When content of a sexual nature can be created of anyone without their consent, it is a violation of their human rights. Whether the images or videos are distributed by the creator is virtually irrelevant, even more so because it is not guaranteed – the files are always at risk of being be leaked accidentally or accessed by hackers.

This also goes without mentioning the social impact that deepfakes can have on a person’s public and personal image. Becoming a victim of deepfake pornography is not just an inconvenience, it is an infringement of women’s privacy, dignity, and identity.

After encountering a sexually suggestive deepfake video of herself on the internet, US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez said that this content ‘parallels the same intention of physical rape and sexual assault, which is about power, domination, and humiliation. Deepfakes are absolutely a way of digitising violent humiliation against other people.’

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of campaigners, journalists, and politicians, the new deepfake legislation will provide an added level of protection for women across the UK. It is sure to be one of many AI-related laws we’ll see emerging in the next decade.