A growing number of people are viewing the creation and sharing of non-consensual sexual deepfakes as nothing more than harmless entertainment, according to a recent police-commissioned survey. The study found that nearly one in four respondents felt neutral or accepted this behavior, even when it involves digitally altering intimate content without consent.
The disturbing trend has sparked warnings from law enforcement officials, who claim that the rise of AI technology is fueling an epidemic of violence against women and girls (VAWG). Senior police officer Det Ch Supt Claire Hammond described the situation as a "serious crime" that requires urgent action. She urged victims of deepfakes to report any images to the authorities, assuring them that they would receive support.
The survey also revealed that 7% of respondents had been depicted in a sexual or intimate deepfake, with only half of those reporting it to the police due to concerns about being treated seriously. The most common reasons for not reporting the incident were embarrassment and uncertainty about how the authorities would handle the situation.
Research suggests that men under 45 are more likely to view creating and sharing deepfakes as acceptable behavior, which is linked to a broader pattern of misogyny and views on pornography. However, experts warn against jumping to conclusions, citing the need for further research into this phenomenon.
The report also highlights the alarming normalisation of deepfake creation, with technology becoming increasingly accessible and affordable. One in 20 respondents admitted to having created deepfakes in the past, while over one in 10 said they would create one in the future.
Activists are sounding the alarm about the devastating impact of these technologies on victims of abuse. They argue that a lack of education, safeguards, and laws has led to a generation of young people growing up without adequate protection from online harassment.
As the technology continues to evolve, it is clear that urgent action is needed to prevent the spread of non-consensual sexual deepfakes and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
The disturbing trend has sparked warnings from law enforcement officials, who claim that the rise of AI technology is fueling an epidemic of violence against women and girls (VAWG). Senior police officer Det Ch Supt Claire Hammond described the situation as a "serious crime" that requires urgent action. She urged victims of deepfakes to report any images to the authorities, assuring them that they would receive support.
The survey also revealed that 7% of respondents had been depicted in a sexual or intimate deepfake, with only half of those reporting it to the police due to concerns about being treated seriously. The most common reasons for not reporting the incident were embarrassment and uncertainty about how the authorities would handle the situation.
Research suggests that men under 45 are more likely to view creating and sharing deepfakes as acceptable behavior, which is linked to a broader pattern of misogyny and views on pornography. However, experts warn against jumping to conclusions, citing the need for further research into this phenomenon.
The report also highlights the alarming normalisation of deepfake creation, with technology becoming increasingly accessible and affordable. One in 20 respondents admitted to having created deepfakes in the past, while over one in 10 said they would create one in the future.
Activists are sounding the alarm about the devastating impact of these technologies on victims of abuse. They argue that a lack of education, safeguards, and laws has led to a generation of young people growing up without adequate protection from online harassment.
As the technology continues to evolve, it is clear that urgent action is needed to prevent the spread of non-consensual sexual deepfakes and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
. Like I know AI tech is advancing fast, but creating and sharing deepfakes that are just plain nasty? That's not entertainment, that's harassment 
. And to think nearly a quarter of people out there are like "meh" about it? It's concerning, you feel me? 
And what's with the 7% of ppl being depicted in these vids and only half reporting it to cops because they're worried about how it'll be handled? 
That's not right.
. And now that tech is getting easier to use, we gotta take action to protect the vulnerable 
. This isn't just about women and girls (VAWG), it's about everyone who's gonna be affected by these fake vids 
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. We should be working on ways to educate people about online safety & respect, instead of just warning people about the dangers 
. It's time for us to take responsibility as a society & create real change 
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. Like, what even is that? Don't these people get that sharing or creating non-consensual content is a serious violation of someone's trust and boundaries? 
It's not just about the tech, it's about respecting each other as human beings. And honestly, I'm scared for all the women and girls out there who are already dealing with trauma and abuse. We need to take this seriously and have some real conversations about consent and online safety 
. The fact that 7% of people have been depicted in deepfakes and only half of them even reported it is just too much... we need to do better, folks! 
. I mean, we're living in a world where some people think sharing intimate content without consent is just 'harmless entertainment'? 
That's not okay at all. It's so important that we raise awareness and support victims of deepfakes. We need to educate ourselves and others about the devastating impact this can have on women and girls. I'm glad law enforcement officials are stepping in, but more needs to be done! 
i feel so bad for all the victims out there who are being exploited like they're just objects 4 people's twisted desires 
. Like, what even is harmless entertainment when you're talking about digitally altering intimate content without someone's permission? It's not just the deepfakes themselves, but also the fact that some people are creating and sharing them with no regard for the victims' feelings or safety.
I cant even imagine creating a fake video with someone's consentless content its so wrong! 
And laws should be in place to stop this kind of thing ASAP 
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. And to make matters worse, some guys under 45 think it's cool to create these things? 
That's a serious problem, folks! We need to educate ourselves and others about consent and respect online 
. The technology may be easy to access, but we need laws and safeguards in place to protect people from exploitation 
It's not just about creating and sharing these deepfakes, but also about educating people on consent and respect online. And yeah, I agree with Det Ch Supt Claire Hammond - we need urgent action to tackle this epidemic of violence against women and girls. 
that's just wrong. The fact that only half of those who were depicted in a deepfake reported it to the police is insane 
. It's like, what even is this? 
. We need laws and education NOW 
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