The British government has started a crackdown on the creation of “deepfakes” by announcing that people who create sexually explicit “deepfakes” will face prosecution under a new law announced by the government on Tuesday (Apr 16). 

The United Kingdom government said that according to the law, this offence will apply to images of adults because the law already covers this behaviour where the image is of a child (under the age of 18). 

It said people will criminal record and an unlimited fine if they are guilty of creating “horrific images” without consent. 

If the image is then shared more widely offenders could be sent to jail. Meanwhile, is someone creates a sexually explicit deepfake without any intention of sharing it, but purely wants to cause alarm, humiliation or distress to the victim, they will be committing a criminal offence. 

The government said that if a person both creates deepfakes and then shares it, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) could charge them with two offences, potentially leading to their sentence being increased. 

In an official statement, Laura Farris, the Minister for Victims and Safeguarding, said: “The creation of deepfake sexual images is despicable and completely unacceptable irrespective of whether the image is shared.” 

“It is another example of ways in which certain people seek to degrade and dehumanise others – especially women. And it has the capacity to cause catastrophic consequences if the material is shared more widely. This government will not tolerate it,” Farris added. 

“This new offence sends a crystal clear message that making this material is immoral, often misogynistic and a crime,” she said. 

Yvette Cooper, who is the shadow interior minister with the opposition Labour Party, welcomed the announcement.

“Superimposing somebody’s image onto sexually explicit photos and videos is a gross violation of their autonomy and privacy, which can cause enormous harm, and it must not be tolerated,” she said.

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UK on AI and elections 

Last month, British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said that Democratic countries around the world should band together to confront the threat of AI used by malign states to threaten free elections and spread misinformation. 

Dowden said during the Summit for Democracy in Seoul that what he hopes will be a “groundbreaking” new global government compact on countering deceptive use of artificial intelligence by foreign states in elections. 

(With inputs from agencies)