The British government has announced plans to criminalize the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes. This measure builds on previous changes made by the Online Safety Act 2023, which already made it an offense to share or threaten to share intimate images, including deepfakes. Under the new rules, individuals who create or take intimate photographs or videos without consent will face up to two years in prison. This includes cases where the intent is sexual gratification or to cause distress or humiliation to the victim.
Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones highlighted the importance of these new laws as part of the government’s broader plan to combat violence against women. The move is seen as a response to the increasing online abuse faced by women, with one in three women already victims of such abuse. The government aims to prevent people from being victimized online and to send a clear message that offenders will face the full force of the law.
Sexually explicit, AI-generated images have become a significant issue, often used by cyber-bullies and online extortionists. The rise of generative AI tools has made it easier for malicious actors to manipulate images and videos of victims, often scraped from social media or other publicly accessible platforms. In 2023, the FBI warned of a surge in complaints related to digital sextortion, as AI tools enabled increasingly realistic and disturbing content.
Despite the government’s plans, experts remain skeptical about the effectiveness of the proposed law. ESET global cybersecurity advisor Jake Moore expressed concerns that deepfake technology’s rapid advancement could make it difficult for police to track down offenders. Many AI services that enable deepfake creation remain hidden on the dark web or through encrypted communication channels, complicating law enforcement efforts to identify perpetrators and enforce the law.
