I was a victim of someone creating deepfakes of me for sexual gratification. When I reported it to the police, I found to my disbelief that it wasn’t illegal. The mental trauma and distress caused from this heinous act was, and still is, difficult to live with.

The proliferation of deepfake technology has raised severe privacy and ethical concerns. While AI can be a force for good, its misuse, especially in creating non-consensual explicit content, infringes on personal rights and safety. These digitally fabricated images and videos can lead to public humiliation, anxiety, and mental anguish for the victims involved, leaving them with little recourse and exacerbating their suffering.

A survey conducted by Deeptrace found that 96% of deepfake videos online are pornographic and target women. With the growing sophistication of AI, this problem will only escalate if immediate action is not taken. Many victims are left in a vulnerable state, exposed and defamed by content they never consented to. It is time to address this glaring gap in our legal systems.

Governments worldwide need to update and enforce laws to criminalise the creation and distribution of deepfake and AI-generated sexual content without consent. Other countries like the UK have already started to take steps to tackle online harms. Similar efforts should be mobilised globally to ensure adequate protection for potential victims of such digital abuse.

Moreover, social media platforms and ISPs must implement more robust detection and removal processes for non-consensual deepfake content and cooperate with law enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable.

Sign this petition to urge lawmakers to criminalise the non-consensual creation and distribution of deepfake AI-generated sexual content. We must protect individuals' rights and mental well-being by standing against this form of digital violation.