The Australian government has announced plans to introduce new criminal laws aimed at combating the creation and sharing of sexually explicit deepfake content. This move comes in response to growing concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to produce non-consensual intimate images and videos.
The Criminal Code Amendment (Deepfake Sexual Material) Bill 2024 (Cth) will make it illegal to create, share, or threaten to share intimate images that have been digitally manipulated without the consent of the person depicted. This includes both photorealistic images and videos created using AI technology. Offenders could face up to five years in prison for these crimes.
The new laws will also grant additional powers to the eSafety Commissioner to combat the spread of such content online. This includes the ability to issue removal notices to websites and platforms hosting deepfake material, with potential fines of up to $780,000 for non-compliance.
As AI technology continues to advance, concerns about its potential misuse for creating non-consensual intimate content have grown. These new laws represent an important step in protecting individuals from the harmful effects of deepfake technology and ensuring that Australia’s legal framework keeps pace with technological developments. It also aligns with similar initiatives in other countries, such as the United Kingdom, which recently passed legislation criminalising the creation and sharing of deepfake pornography.
The legislation is expected to be introduced to Parliament in the coming months.
For a full reading of the Bill, see here.
