I am pleased to share a major victory in the fight against online abuse, particularly deepfake sexual violence. After extensive campaigning and advocacy, the UK Government has shifted its position, agreeing to adopt a comprehensive and consent-based law that criminalises the creation and solicitation of sexually explicit deepfakes.
What changed?
Initially, the Government had proposed a far narrower offence that would have required proof of specific motives, but following strong pressure and expert advocacy—culminating in a pivotal debate in the House of Lords led by Baroness Owen—the law now offers robust protections against deepfake sexual abuse. We also secured changes to broaden the definition of intimate image and extend the time limits for bringing prosecutions.
New law is straightforward and comprehensive
This new law ensures that only deepfakes produced with explicit consent are lawful, safeguarding individuals from image-based abuse. It will also criminalise the act of soliciting such content—regardless of where the offender is based—this reform marks a landmark step forward in our broader campaign against online violence and image-based sexual abuse. This change is due to the drive and commitment of survivor-activist Jodie. I also worked alongside my colleague Gemma Davies to convince the Government of the need to extend the laws on jurisdiction to ensure that the new laws apply regardless of where the creator is based.
One step forward, but more change needed
This significant law reform was secured as part of the broader campaign to strengthen the law on image-based sexual abuse – the taking, creating and sharing of intimate images without consent. This campaign is led by survivor-activist #JodieCampaigns, the End Violence Against Women and Girls coalition, the survivor organisation #NotYourPorn and Glamour magazine.
My role?
I worked closely with Baroness Owen on the development of these changes and helped draft the proposed amendments to the law. I also prepared a briefing on the human rights context which helped persuade the Government to change its approach. My research has called for consent-based image-based abuse laws for many years and it is very welcome to see these changes becoming law.
During the Parliamentary debate in the House of Lords on the amendments, I was very pleased that where Professor McGlynn’s research was described my research and briefings on this subject as “overwhelmingly persuasive”.
Further information
You can read the Durham University statement on the law reform here and the End Violence Against Women and Girls coalition news here.
The u-turn was first reported in the Sunday Times.
My short blog on why we need a law to criminalise creation of sexually explicit deepfakes is here.
My research article detailing justifications for criminalisation of creation with Ruya Tuna Toparlak, is available here.
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