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Politics

Baroness Owen highlights urgent need for deepfake abuse legislation

During International Women’s Day in the House of Lords, Baroness Owen raises concerns over the alarming trend of deepfake abuse targeting women, calling for immediate legislative measures.

On International Women’s Day, Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge, a former adviser to Boris Johnson, addressed the House of Lords to highlight the alarming rise of deepfake abuse targeting women, identifying it as a significant concern requiring immediate legislative action. The specific worry centres around the non-consensual creation of deepfake content, notably through the use of “nudify” apps, which utilise artificial intelligence (AI) to create fake nude images or videos at a rapid pace. Despite existing laws that prohibit the sharing of such content without consent, current legislation fails to address the creation aspect, leaving a considerable protection gap for individuals.

Baroness Owen emphasized the disproportionate impact this form of abuse has on women, pointing out research findings that 98% of deepfake videos are pornographic, and 99% of these target women specifically. This trend not only invades privacy and compromises safety but also contributes to the further normalization of misogyny and online hate, representing a broader societal issue with far-reaching implications for women’s well-being.

During the session, the need for action was stressed, focusing on legislation that could tackle the creation of non-consensual deepfake content, and educating the public to differentiate between real and manipulated digital content. The debate widened to encompass broader concerns like food poverty and domestic violence, underlining the multifaceted challenges facing women today.

Equalities Minister Baroness Barran indicated the government’s willingness to engage in further discussions on this matter. The emerging consensus underscores the urgency of developing robust legislative and educational frameworks to combat deepfake abuse. This form of cyber violence represents a new frontier in the assault against women’s rights and safety, rallying calls for decisive action to mitigate its growth and protect individuals from its harmful effects.

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