A small group of women changed the UK law on deepfake porn
7 days ago
- #legal-reform
- #deepfake
- #survivor-advocacy
- Jodie's best friend was convicted for creating and sharing deepfake intimate images of her without consent, leading to a 20-week suspended prison sentence.
- At the time, there were no specific laws against deepfake intimate image abuse, prompting Jodie to campaign for legal changes.
- The Data (Use and Access) Act, passed in June, criminalizes the creation and requesting of deepfake intimate images without consent, with penalties including up to six months in prison and unlimited fines.
- A group of victims and experts, including Jodie, formed a WhatsApp group called 'Heroes' to push for legislative changes, with support from Lady Charlotte Owen in the House of Lords.
- The campaign faced initial resistance, including government opposition to criminalizing the requesting of deepfakes and applying a statutory time limit to offenses.
- The new law represents significant progress but still needs full implementation, and future forms of AI abuse may require additional legislation.
- The campaign highlighted the importance of survivor voices in shaping laws and the need for continuous advocacy to address evolving forms of abuse.