The UK is once again strengthening its legislation regarding deepfake porn, i.e. sexualised material created with the help of AI, artificial intelligence. In addition to the fact that it is illegal to spread deepfake porn, it is now also criminal to create the material. It is the UK’s second law change of 2024 which strengthens protections for those exposed to deepfake porn and clearly signals that it is a serious crime.
We who work with victims of sexual violence want Sweden to make a similar offensive. But something like that is not in the works. On the contrary.
The Justice Committee has recently proposed that the Riksdag should reject a motion from Aylin Nouri (S), Sofia Skönnbrink (S) and Hanna Westerén (S) whose purpose is to update Swedish law and legislation, so that technological development does not create gray areas and gaps in the legislation – for example when it applies to deepfake porn.
The Justice Committee justifies its proposal by, among other things, that deepfake porn is discussed at EU level and that the government therefore does not need to take any initiatives in the matter. On the contrary, we see a crying need for initiatives, similar to those that Britain is now taking.
Legislative processes are slow and therefore the government and the Riksdag must start working on the issue as soon as possible. If today’s passivity is allowed to continue, we are convinced that more and more people, especially women and girls, will be exposed to deepfake porn. It is unacceptable. Technological development must never threaten women’s and girls’ rights and lives free from violence.
The Justice Committee also refers to the fact that today it is possible to be sentenced for defamation or illegal invasion of privacy in cases involving deepfake porn, something that Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M) said “in many respects provides effective protection against unwanted behavior that involves threats and serious violations”.
The crime of unlawful invasion of privacy was introduced on January 1, 2018, and five years later, in 2023, statistics from Brå, the Crime Prevention Council, showed that only 1 percent of the approximately 10,400 reports received led to a conviction. Is it adequate protection against threats and serious violations? Of course not. The figures further reinforce the need for an investigation into how Sweden should legislate around deepfake porn and how the judiciary should combat this type of crime.
Being exposed to online sexual crimes that have been documented, or that give the appearance of having been documented, can have serious and far-reaching consequences for the way the victims feel. We meet victims who testify about mental illness, suicidal thoughts and a limited everyday life as a result of this form of abuse. That abuse is filmed, photographed or created with the help of AI brings enormous fear and insecurity.
Even today, few are felled for various forms of sexual offences. The Riksdag and the government must not make the situation worse by acting too slowly.
We demand that Sweden’s government and Riksdag follow Britain’s lead and immediately begin work to put an end to deepfake porn.
THE WRITERS
Cecilia Bödker Pedersengeneral secretary of the organization Storasyster
Kajsa Rietzgeneral secretary of the organization Novahuset
Zandra Kanakarisgeneral secretary of the organization 1000 opportunities
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