Member

Finally, Amendment 298 addresses the possession and use of software designed to create new digital images. These deepfake generators are fuelling a rapid rise in image-based sexual abuse. I pay tribute to the noble Baroness, Lady Owen, for leading the way on criminalising the making and taking of deepfake images. That work is vital, but we must go further, because the tools themselves are the accelerant. This amendment makes it an offence to intentionally possess, obtain or store software the primary purpose of which is to create or alter sexually explicit or nude images. I am open to working with Ministers on drafting to achieve the right balance, but the principle must be clear: the technology itself must be outlawed.