The UK government has announced plans to make creating sexually explicit deepfake images a criminal offense, with perpetrators facing up to two years in prison. The new measure aims to close a legal gap, as only sharing such content is currently prohibited under UK law.
Under the proposed legislation, which will be introduced as part of the Crime and Policing Bill, creating AI-generated explicit images of real people without their consent would become illegal. The law would apply regardless of whether the creator intended to share the content.
"Creating or sharing these vile images is not only unacceptable but criminal," stated Baroness Margaret Beryl Jones, minister for future digital economy and online safety. She emphasized that tech platforms hosting such content will face stricter oversight and penalties.
The announcement builds on previous legislation that made sharing sexually explicit deepfakes illegal through the Online Safety Act 2023. The new measure specifically targets creation, addressing growing concerns about AI technology making it easier to produce realistic fake content.
The government also plans to criminalize taking intimate photos or videos without consent, including the installation of hidden recording equipment. These offenses would carry similar two-year maximum sentences.
According to government officials, one in three women have experienced online abuse. Parliamentary Under-Secretary Alex Davies-Jones called it "a demeaning and disgusting form of chauvinism" that must not become normalized. A disturbing new study reveals that approximately one in six women serving in Congress have been victims of AI-generated sexually explicit deepfakes. The research, conducted by The American Sunlight Project (ASP), identified over 35,000 instances of nonconsensual intimate imagery targeting 26 members of Congress - with 25 of the victims being women.
While experts welcome the stricter measures, some question enforcement challenges. Cybersecurity specialists note that tracing deepfake creators can be difficult, as many operate through encrypted channels or dark web services.
The UK's approach contrasts with the United States, where federal legislation remains limited. While the US Senate passed the DEFIANCE Act in 2024 allowing victims to sue creators of explicit deepfakes, the bill has stalled in the House of Representatives.
The new UK legislation excludes content involving minors, as creating or sharing sexually explicit images of children is already illegal under existing laws.