In recent months, a rising number of women in the United Kingdom have fallen victim to deepfake pornography, a form of online abuse that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create sexually explicit images and videos without consent. This disturbing trend targets women across a range of ages and public profiles, from media figures to private individuals, with motivations that range from silencing outspoken voices to acts of spite.
Narinder Kaur, a 54-year-old broadcaster with GB News, first encountered this abuse last November when manipulated images that appeared to show her nude were posted on her X social media account, where she has nearly 80,000 followers. The images, though digitally altered using “nudification” apps, were so realistic that many viewers might not have discerned their falsity. Since then, Narinder has been repeatedly targeted with dozens more deepfaked photos and videos, some depicting her in humiliating scenarios involving public figures, which she says are intended to undermine her credibility as a commentator on issues such as immigration and poverty.
Narinder’s experience is far from isolated. Earlier this year, Nadine Dorries, a former Conservative MP and current Reform UK member, was alerted by police that deepfake pornographic videos featuring her had circulated online. A 36-year-old man was arrested, and electronic devices containing thousands of AI-generated images, including those of at least three other female politicians and celebrities, were seized. Journalists Cathy Newman and former Cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt have also publicly shared their encounters with deepfake abuse.
A recent police-commissioned survey in the UK found that seven percent of respondents had been depicted in sexual or intimate deepfake images without their consent. Additionally, a poll conducted by campaign group End Violence Against Women (EVAW) and the domestic abuse charity Refuge revealed that 18 percent of UK women had experienced image-based sexual abuse. The vast majority—around 99 percent—of deepfake material online features women, and 96 percent is sexually explicit.
Experts and victims note that the abuse aims not only to degrade and silence women who speak out but also serves as a form of misogynistic punishment. For instance, Narinder Kaur receives attacks related to her activism and commentary, while others with no public profiles, including victims of domestic abuse, have been targeted by former partners who have used deepfakes to harass and demean them.
Legally, the UK has moved to criminalize the creation or request of intimate deepfake images without consent. Section 138 of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, effective February this year, makes such actions punishable by up to six months in prison, unlimited fines, and criminal records. However, enforcement remains challenging due to the anonymous and transient nature of online platforms where deepfakes are shared and swiftly deleted.
Labour MP Jess Asato, who raised the issue in Parliament earlier this year, experienced deepfake manipulation firsthand, including videos depicting violent and abusive scenarios. She is currently pursuing legal action against xAI, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, to hold developers accountable for the misuse of their tools. Similarly, Independent councillor Jill Salt of Staffordshire revealed that manipulated images shared on local Facebook groups led her to step down from public office due to the sustained harassment affecting her and her family.
Despite police investigations underway in some cases, including Jill Salt’s, many perpetrators remain unidentified. Campaigners such as Janaya Walker, Interim Director of EVAW Coalition, call for stronger regulation of online platforms to hold technology companies accountable and curb the proliferation of deepfake abuse.
Victims who have spoken out emphasize the profound personal toll of deepfake pornography, describing feelings of shame, humiliation, and anxiety, especially given the widespread public exposure and the potential impact on family members. Narinder Kaur, coping with the ongoing abuse, advocates for shifting the stigma away from victims toward those responsible, underscoring that the burden of guilt should lie solely with perpetrators.