One in six female MEPs targeted by deepfake pornography

Around one in six female members of the European Parliament have been depicted in or associated with deepfake pornography, according to a new report by Germany-based civil society group Agora Digitale Transformation.

Researchers identified 50 MEPs targeted by AI-generated sexual content, including 46 women and four men. The findings highlight the disproportionate impact of non-consensual AI-generated intimate imagery on women in European politics.

The report describes deepfake pornography, also known as AI-generated non-consensual intimate imagery, as a systemic threat to women holding political office.

Researchers examined hundreds of websites

The researchers examined hundreds of websites known to host or produce AI-generated sexual content, including platforms associated with deepfake pornography, celebrity leaks and inappropriate candid images of women in public life.

They searched the names of all 720 MEPs across 200 websites using a Google Custom Search engine.

The analysis found that the targeted lawmakers came from across the political spectrum, suggesting that exposure is linked primarily to public visibility rather than political affiliation.

The report said the findings were consistent with previous research into the exposure of members of national parliaments to similar abuse.

EU moves against AI-generated sexual content

The findings come as the European Union takes steps to address the growing use of artificial intelligence to create sexual imagery without consent.

The EU is set to ban AI-powered nudifier applications from Dec. 2 and is also investigating the use of similar technology involving Grok on the social media platform X.

The researchers said the findings demonstrate the scale of the threat facing women in European politics and underline concerns over the misuse of generative AI to create and distribute non-consensual sexual material.

Source:AA