The troubling rise of non-consensual deepfake pornography prompts Baroness Charlotte Owen to push for legal action.
- A new Bill introduced by Owen aims to close existing legal gaps on deepfake porn.
- This initiative seeks to end the traumatic experience for victims by simplifying proof requirements.
- Owen’s efforts have garnered widespread political support across party lines.
- The proposed legislation targets both the creation and solicitation of deepfake content.
Baroness Charlotte Owen is taking significant steps to address the escalating issue of non-consensual deepfake pornography. By introducing a Bill that seeks to criminalize this activity, Owen aims to close the ‘gaping loopholes’ in existing laws such as the Sexual Offenses Act 2003. The current system puts the burden of proof on victims, which can be extremely distressing and traumatic, as demonstrated by Owen’s account of victims having to revisit messages to establish non-consent.
Deepfake pornography, particularly through the method known as ‘nudification’, has become an industry fueled by advances in generative AI. Owen highlighted research from an Australian software company that found one app alone processed 600,000 photos of women within just 21 days of its launch. This statistic underscores the urgent need for legislation to mitigate this growing threat, which affects not only celebrities like Taylor Swift who have publicly addressed the issue but also countless ordinary women.
A pivotal aspect of Owen’s proposed Bill is the criminalization of the solicitation of deepfake pornography creation. This approach stems from discussions with Jodie, a survivor of image-based abuse. Jodie’s ordeal involved intimate images being sourced from her social media and shared online with requests to create explicit content. The shift towards criminalizing solicitation aims to deter those seeking to exploit legal gray areas by collaborating across international jurisdictions.
The Bill, known as the Non-Consensual Sexually Explicit Images and Videos Bill, will soon undergo its second reading in the House of Lords. Owen is optimistic about the Bill’s prospects, noting the extensive support from peers across political parties, including the Labour Party, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, and the DUP. She emphasizes that this legislation is aligned with broader governmental efforts to combat violence against women and girls, integrating online abuse within the wider context of such violence.
Baroness Owen’s proactive stance in the House of Lords, since being granted her peerage, reflects her commitment to scrutinizing legislation related to new technologies. Her initiative on deepfake pornography is among the first major projects since she joined the Lords, and the reception has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing her belief in the need for cohesive, well-supported legal reform.
Baroness Owen’s Bill represents a bold, necessary step towards tackling the pervasive issue of non-consensual deepfake pornography.
