Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/09/uk_government_promises_law_against_deepfake_smut/
Source: The Register
Title: UK government pledges law against sexually explicit deepfakes
Feedly Summary: Not just making them, but sharing them too
The UK government has promised to make the creation and sharing of sexually explicit deepfake images a criminal offence.…
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The UK government’s initiative to criminalize the creation and sharing of sexually explicit deepfake images highlights a growing acknowledgment of the risks posed by AI-generated content, particularly in the context of privacy and online abuse. This measure underscores the intersection of technology, law, and personal safety, marking a significant step towards regulating the misuse of AI in personal and societal contexts.
Detailed Description:
The UK government’s proposed legislation to tackle the issue of sexually explicit deepfake images addresses serious concerns about the implications of AI technologies on privacy and social ethics. Here are the major points covered in the text:
– **Government Initiative**: The introduction of a new criminal offence aimed at both the creation and sharing of sexually explicit deepfakes.
– **Impact on Victims**: The government emphasizes the harm caused, particularly to women and girls who are often the targets of such abuse.
– **Legislative Context**: The new law will be included in the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill, emphasizing the seriousness with which the government treats these offenses.
– **Statements from Officials**:
– Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones highlighted that online abuse is widely prevalent and unacceptable.
– Baroness Jones, the technology minister, reinforced the government’s stance on the necessity for tech companies to exert greater control and face penalties for hosting such content.
– **Penalties**: Offenders could face up to two years in jail for creating or sharing intimate images without consent.
– **Existing Laws and Collaboration with Tech Firms**:
– The legislation builds upon existing laws under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
– Response from major AI companies in the U.S., which have made commitments to prevent misuse of their technologies for creating non-consensual deepfake content.
– **Industry Responsibility**: Tech companies like Adobe, Microsoft, OpenAI, and others have pledged to implement measures to stop their products from being used for harm, pointing to a collaborative approach to addressing these issues.
This initiative represents a noteworthy intersection of AI technology regulation, privacy law, and social responsibility. Security and compliance professionals need to monitor such legislative changes closely, as they highlight the emerging standards and legal frameworks that organizations must navigate to ensure compliance and ethical operation in increasingly sophisticated technological landscapes.