South Australia is poised to implement new laws aimed at protecting individuals from harmful images and videos generated through artificial intelligence, commonly referred to as “deepfakes.” This legislative action comes in response to a significant rise in the creation of non-consensual, often sexually explicit content targeting victims without their consent.
Attorney-General Kyam Maher highlighted that instances of such images have surged by over 500% year-on-year. The legislation will specifically tackle the alarming trend of sexually explicit deepfakes predominantly affecting women and girls. According to Maher, a staggering 90% of deepfakes are pornographic in nature, and a troubling 99% of these images involve female subjects.
Connie Bonaros, a member of SA Best, condemned this issue as “the fastest growing threat to women and girls online today.” She emphasized that anyone who feels entitled to exploit or demean individuals, particularly women and girls, should face severe legal consequences.
Under the proposed laws, individuals found guilty of creating or distributing deepfakes could face penalties of up to four years in prison or fines reaching $20,000. The government aims to have these new regulations in place within the coming weeks, marking a proactive step towards safeguarding vulnerable groups in the digital landscape.