January 7, 2025 – The British government has announced that creating and sharing sexually explicit “deepfakes” will soon become a criminal offense, aiming to combat the rapid increase in the proliferation of such images, which predominantly target women and girls.
Deepfakes, which are videos, pictures, or audio clips altered using artificial intelligence to appear realistic, can be used to manipulate pornographic images to resemble someone else. Although the publication of intimate photos or videos without consent—referred to as revenge porn—was criminalized in Britain in 2015, this legislation does not cover fake images.
According to data from the British-based Revenge Porn Helpline, incidents of image-based abuse involving deepfakes have surged by more than 400% since 2017.
The new offense will allow authorities to prosecute individuals for both creating and distributing these images. “There is no excuse for creating a sexually explicit deepfake of someone without their consent,” the Justice Ministry stated.
The previous Conservative government, which lost power to the Labour Party in July 2024, had proposed similar measures to criminalize sexually explicit deepfakes. Offenders under the proposed law could face fines and imprisonment.
Further details of the new offense will be outlined in due course, according to the Justice Ministry. The government also plans to introduce new offenses for taking intimate images without consent and installing equipment with the intent to commit such offenses, with penalties of up to two years in prison for those found guilty.
Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones condemned the rise of intimate image abuse, stating, “This demeaning and disgusting form of chauvinism must not become normalized.” Technology Minister Margaret Jones added that tech platforms hosting abusive images will face increased scrutiny and significant penalties.
Campaigner Jess Davies highlighted the severity of intimate image abuse, describing it as a “national emergency” causing long-lasting harm to women and girls, who often lose control over their digital footprint due to online misogyny.
The new offenses will be part of the government’s Crime and Policing Bill, which will be introduced to Parliament, with a date yet to be set.
