Sick ‘deepfakes’ aren’t a game & should NOT be laughed off – perpetrators MUST be punished, says Justice Secretary

These days most of us live our lives online, sharing smiling selfies without a second thought. But in the wrong hands, innocent photos can be twisted for a much darker purpose.

People are using artificial intelligence to turn these harmless photographs and videos into sick sex tapes and pictures – so-called ‘deepfakes’. These vile clips are increasingly realistic, and can be shared with millions at the click of a button.

They may be fake, but the damage and distress to victims is all too real, and it’s almost always women who bear the brunt. Worryingly, it’s a growing problem – one study has estimated a massive 550 percent increase in this horrifying content over the last 5 years.  

These deepfakes aren’t something to be laughed off, or a game that’s gone too far. They’re an assault on women and damaging to society. This Government is saying enough is enough.

Today, MPs are debating our plans to make creating these images an offence. This will mean that anyone who deliberately makes a sexually explicit ‘deepfake’ photograph or video of someone without their consent, getting sick kicks from it, could face a criminal record and unlimited fine.

This will build on the offences we have already put on the books, which mean that if these horrific images are shared, a perpetrator could face jail time.  

We’re sending a crystal clear message that this abuse won’t be tolerated. And, just days after we set out our intention to create this new offence, two of the biggest deepfake pornography sites reportedly started blocking people trying to access them from the UK.  

This Government is putting women’s safety first. We banned other disgusting offences, including ‘revenge porn,’ ‘cyber-flashing’, ‘upskirting’ and taking photos of women breastfeeding without their consent.

No woman should live in fear of their image being doctored for someone else’s warped ends. We’re calling time on degrading deepfakes – and their cruel creators should fear the consequences.