Sexual Deepfakes Target Women in Politics and Media

Sexual deepfakes are increasingly used to intimidate women in politics, journalism, and activism, with European Union lawmakers moving to ban AI services that create non-consensual explicit images. Slovenian activist Nika Kovac faced attacks during her abortion rights campaign, with AI-generated sexual videos appearing on social media. French journalist Salomé Saqué and Argentine journalist Julia Mengolini have also been victims, highlighting a trend of using deepfakes to silence women. The attacks aim to humiliate and push women out of public discourse. Recent incidents in Italy involved altered images of political figures, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The growing threat has prompted warnings from press freedom organizations about the risks to journalists, particularly women. As digital platforms expand in Africa, the region is becoming a prime target for such cyber abuse.

Key Points: • Sexual deepfakes are being weaponized against women in public life to silence their voices. • The EU is moving to ban AI services that create non-consensual explicit images. • High-profile victims include activists and journalists facing intimidation through deepfake technology.