Dealing with Deepfakes and Revenge Porn: The Call for Enhanced Protection in Germany
The State of Affairs
Urging Enhanced Security Measures for Deepfakes and Revenge Porn Prevention - Urge to Enhance safeguards against Deepfake media and Revenge Pornography
Victims of image-based sexual violence, such as revenge porn and sextortion, are often young women and girls, enduring consequences ranging from social isolation to extreme cases of suicide. In an effort to mitigate these issues, the Lower Saxony government advocates for internet protection against the publication of fake pornographic images, including deepfakes, which utilize AI technology. In March, the Bundesrat approved a bill to combat deepfakes, yet progress in the old Bundestag halted. The Lower Saxony proposal addresses only digital forgeries, while leaving gaps in other areas of criminal liability, such as data privacy and secret photographs in public spaces.
Lower Saxony's Crusade
Minister of Justice Kathrin Wahlmann (SPD) articulated the necessity for a clear stance against any form of image-based sexual violence. On Thursday, the justice ministers' conference in Bad Schandau, Saxony, will hear Lower Saxony's plea to plug cracks in German criminal law concerning sexualized violence.
EU Regulations and Collaboration
The European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA), beginning in 2024, demands that platforms remove illegal content, including deepfakes, upon reporting. The EU AI Act, also set to take effect in 2024, calls for the disclosure of artificially generated content, such as deepfakes, to boost transparency. A new EU directive intends to criminalize the unauthorized dissemination of sexualized deepfakes across Europe, with member states having three years to incorporate the rules into their respective national laws.
Future Steps
Notably absent from the current conversation is specific information regarding Lower Saxony's role in addressing deepfakes and revenge porn. Broader discussions revolve around federal and EU-level legislation aimed at strengthening infrastructure to combat deepfake-related offenses. Future actions may include the Violence Support Act, advocating for improved access to legal support, and legislation criminalizing the creation and distribution of unauthorized sexualized deepfakes, irrespective of traditional pornography laws.
A Beacon of Hope
Though the exact involvement of Lower Saxony or Minister Kathrin Wahlmann regarding deepfakes and revenge porn remains unclear, their call for action marks a significant step forward in combating image-based sexual violence. In an evolving technological landscape, ongoing efforts to fortify legal protection against deepfakes and ensure the welfare of affected individuals will require collaboration among policymakers, law enforcement, and internet platforms.
- The community policy in Lower Saxony emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced protection against deepfakes, revenge porn, and other forms of image-based sexual violence, particularly in light of advancements in science and technology such as AI.
- As part of the health-and-wellness measures, the Lower Saxony government advocates for effective policies to combat deepfakes, recognizing the detrimental impact of platforms hosting these manipulated images on the mental and emotional well-being of victims, particularly women and girls.
- In the realm of general news, the Lower Saxony proposal for strengthening German criminal law to combat deepfakes and revenge porn includes addressing gaps in areas like data privacy and secret photographs in public spaces, in alignment with evolving EU regulations on deepfakes and AI.
