UK to criminalize deepfake porn

UK to criminalize deepfake porn and related explicit material.

The UK government will consider a bill banning the distribution of explicit material and deepfake pornography without the consent of those depicted. The Guardian reports.

Explicit images taken without anyone’s consent using hidden cameras will be criminal offences. Also outlawed will be ‘revenge porn’—the distribution of private photographs as retaliation.

Under the proposals, pornographic deepfakes would face custodial sentences.

Professor Penny Lewis of the Law Commission, who had recommended creating new offences, welcomed the bill’s introduction to Parliament.

“We are pleased that the government will implement our recommendations to strengthen the law. The new set of offences will cover a broader range of abusive behaviour, ensuring that more offenders who commit these extremely harmful acts are held to account,”

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said the law would protect children and adults from unlawful acts by perpetrators:

“These changes will give the police and prosecutors the powers they need to hold these cowards to account and to protect women and girls from such vile violence.”

Child-safety groups also welcomed the initiative. Susie Hargreaves, executive director of the Internet Watch Foundation, said decisive and unambiguous action is needed to create a safer internet in the United Kingdom:

“Now we need lawmakers to unite to achieve a common goal. Police, charities and large tech companies are doing a phenomenal amount of work, and clear government guidance would be a welcome spur.”

However, some rights advocates urged lawmakers to reject the bill. The Open Rights Group says the initiative threatens freedom of speech. According to its executive director, Jim Killock, the law could become a tool for constant surveillance of users’ private messages on messaging apps.

“This will create a culture of everyday censorship that will disproportionately remove content from vulnerable groups, claiming to protect them. This requires a complete rethink,” said the rights advocate.

The bill was first introduced in May 2021. However, amid Britain’s political crisis, its consideration was postponed indefinitely.

Earlier in July, authorities backed plans to scan citizens’ smartphones for CSAM materials.

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