Councillor Faces Deepfake Abuse, Calls for Action Against Online Harassment

• •Councillor Jill Salt resigns due to severe online abuse involving deepfakes.
• •Deepfake technology is increasingly used to create sexualised images targeting women.
• •Local police have begun an investigation into the harassment faced by Salt.

Jill Salt, a councillor in Staffordshire, has announced her resignation due to severe online abuse, including sexualised deepfake images and misogynistic posts. Over the past 18 months, the nature of political attacks has shifted to become more personal, particularly targeting her as a woman. Salt has faced deepfakes that mimic her likeness, including one where her image was altered to appear in a sexualised context. She struggled to have these harmful posts removed from social media, initially facing dismissal from both Meta and local police. However, the police have since opened an investigation into the matter. Staffordshire's police commissioner condemned the abuse, stating it is unacceptable and will be taken seriously. The incident highlights the growing issue of deepfake technology being used for harassment and abuse.