AVÊÓƵ

Beatriz Kira

Beatriz Kira is a Lecturer in Law at the AVÊÓƵ. She is a Research Fellow in Law & Regulation at UCL’s Digital Speech Lab and a Research Associate at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. Trained as a lawyer and as a social scientist, her research in on law, technology and regulation, with a current focus on the regulation of social media platforms and the impact of artificial intelligence technologies on information and communication environments.

Title: When Non-Consensual Intimate Deepfakes Go Viral: The Insufficiency of the UK Online Safety Act

Abstract:

Advancements in AI have drastically simplified the creation of synthetic media. While concerns often focus on potential misinformation harms, “non-consensual intimate deepfakes” (NCID) pose a current, severe, and growing threat, disproportionately impacting women and girls. This type of image-based abuse gained global attention following the dissemination of synthetic explicit media featuring pop icon Taylor Swift in January 2024. However, it is not a new phenomenon, and its impact extends beyond celebrities. This presentation discusses the measures currently employed throughout the "deepfake stack" to counter NCID in the UK. Examining the recently adopted Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA), it argues that the new criminal offenses and the "systems and processes" approach the law adopts are insufficient. This is because they rely on platform policies that often lack consistency regarding synthetic media. Furthermore, platforms' focus on removing existing content offers limited redress to victims after the harm has already occurred. The presentation explores necessary complementary measures across the "deepfake stack" to offer stronger prevention mechanisms and support for victims. It argues that any AI-powered deepfake creation tools accessible to the public should be subject to regulations requiring the implementation of comprehensive and enforceable content moderation systems.

Watch the recording of seminar given 23/04/2024: