AI deepfake porn humiliated me, says Mordaunt

Penny Mordaunt, a former Conservative cabinet minister in the UK, has spoken out about a deeply personal and distressing experience involving artificial intelligence. She revealed that her face was used in AI-generated deepfake pornography, which she described as 'deliberately humiliating and violent. ' Deepfakes are images or videos that have been digitally altered using AI to replace one person's face with another's, often without their consent. Mordaunt shared her story during an interview on BBC Newsnight, explaining how she discovered she was a victim after a documentary exposed that several female politicians, including herself, Dame Priti Patel, and Angela Rayner, had been targeted in this way. The documentary's presenter, Cathy Newman, also revealed she had been a victim. Mordaunt described the experience as violating, saying it was unsettling to see her face in a video that was not truly her. She noted that the video showed her face but not her hair, making it feel both familiar and alien. She emphasized that the people who create these deepfakes often do not consider the real-world consequences of their actions. She warned that such content can lead to actual harm, as people might act on what they see, even if it is fake.

The issue of deepfake pornography has become more urgent as the technology has become more accessible and widespread. Earlier this year, the UK government announced plans to make the creation or distribution of sexually explicit deepfakes a criminal offense, responding to a surge in these incidents. Mordaunt expressed particular concern for children, stating that exposure to such material could be deeply damaging. She pointed out the contradiction in society's willingness to protect children from seeing inappropriate content in public, like on the way to school, but not doing enough to shield them from similar content online. Mordaunt also voiced her support for Australia's decision to take strong action against deepfake content and called on the UK government to show similar courage. She specifically mentioned Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that if he can lead efforts to send humans to Mars, he should be able to implement effective age verification systems to protect young people online.

Mordaunt has held several high-profile positions in government, including serving as the UK's first female defense secretary and playing a central role in the coronation ceremony of King Charles III. She was also the leader of the House of Commons and lord president of the Council. Despite her long career as the MP for Portsmouth North, she lost her seat in the most recent general election. By sharing her experience, Mordaunt hopes to raise awareness about the dangers of deepfake technology and the need for stronger protections online. She encourages anyone affected by similar issues to seek support and stresses the importance of collective action to make the internet a safer place for everyone.