Victims urge tougher action on deepfake abuse as new law comes into force

Victims of Deepfake Abuse Demand Stricter Protection as New Law Takes Effect

Over 73,000 people have signed a petition delivered to Downing Street by campaign group Stop Image-Based Abuse, calling for tougher measures against deepfake image abuse. The new law, which came into effect on Friday, makes creating explicit non-consensual images a criminal offense.

The law was hailed as a "momentous day" by Jodie, a victim of deepfake abuse who discovered her intimate images had been shared online without consent. She expressed frustration with the delayed implementation, stating that it allowed millions more women to become victims and denied them justice.

Campaigners are urging the government to introduce civil routes to justice such as takedown orders for abusive imagery on platforms and devices. They also want improved relationships and sex education, as well as adequate funding for specialist services like the Revenge Porn Helpline.

The law was introduced as an amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, following years of campaigning by Stop Image-Based Abuse. However, campaigners argue that the current legislation falls short in protecting sex workers from intimate image abuse.

Madeline Thomas, a sex worker and founder of tech forensics company Image Angel, said that while the law was a step forward, it did not provide sufficient support for victims like her who have been subjected to non-consensual images shared online. "When commercial sexual images are misused, they're only seen as a copyright breach," she said. "However, the proportion of available responses doesn't match the harm that occurs when you experience it."

The issue of deepfake abuse is a growing concern, with one in three women in the UK experiencing online abuse. The Ministry of Justice has vowed to take action against companies behind "nudification" apps and is making creating non-consensual sexual deepfakes a priority offense under the Online Safety Act.

However, many campaigners remain skeptical about the government's commitment to addressing this issue, saying that more needs to be done to protect victims like Jodie.

I just can't believe it took them so long to pass a law to help people who got scammed online Like, millions of women have been affected and now we're still waiting for better support? It's all good that creating explicit non-consensual images is now a crime, but what about the people who already suffered from this abuse? We need more than just a new law, we need real change . They need to make it easier for victims to get justice and not have to go through hell like Jodie did . And what's with the "momentous day" phrase? It feels like they're trying to make us all feel better than we really are .

I mean, I get where they're coming from, but 73k signatures isn't exactly surprising . We've seen petitions and calls to action for ages on social media, and yet these issues still keep popping up. The thing is, I think the law's a good start, but is it really going to be enforced properly? I'm skeptical about that . They're talking about takedown orders and improved sex education, which sounds like a good idea, but what about the actual resources to back it up? Are they gonna throw more money at this problem or just keep promising changes ?

I'm so glad they're finally taking action against deepfake abuse . I mean, who hasn't been online and seen those creepy, fake images of people being shared around? It's just not right . And the fact that it took an overwhelming number of signatures on a petition to get this law passed is pretty damning .

But what really gets me is how long it took for them to act in the first place . I mean, women have been being victims of deepfake abuse for years and no one's done anything about it . And now that they're finally doing something, I just hope it's enough .

I think what these campaigners need is more than just this new law - they need concrete action and a willingness to follow through on it . Like, how are we supposed to know if companies are actually going to take down those images or not? And what about the victims who don't get the support they deserve? That's where I think more needs to be done in terms of funding and resources .

Anyway, I just hope this is the start of something bigger - a way to protect people from being victimized by deepfake abuse once and for all .

I'm so fed up with the way our online world is still breeding grounds for abuse . This new law might seem like a step in the right direction, but let's get real, it's not enough! We need to see more action taken against these apps that create and spread non-consensual deepfakes. I mean, come on, just because it's now a crime doesn't mean companies are gonna take responsibility or even pay attention?

And what about the victims who have been living with the trauma of being online-shamed? It's not just about getting justice, it's about feeling safe and protected in our own country. I know Jodie's story is a great example of that, but there are millions more out there who need help. We can't just sit back and expect things to get better on their own – we gotta keep pushing for change!

I'm so upset about people still gettin' hurt by deepfake pics . The new law is a good start but we need more ! I feel 4 those victims who can't even trust their own pics . We gotta do better , like takedown orders & better sex ed . And let's not forget those sex workers who get exploited online ‍. We need more support & funding . I'm glad the gov is takin' action but we gotta keep pushin' for change !

I'm so worried about these 73k+ people who signed that petition ... can't imagine how scary it must be for them, having their private pics shared without consent . I think the gov's new law is a good start, but we need to do more . Like, what about these victims who are getting trolled and abused online? We need better support systems in place, not just laws . It's time for the gov to listen to campaigners like Stop Image-Based Abuse and make some real changes . And can we talk about how many women in the UK are experiencing online abuse... 1 in 3?! That's crazy . We need to be more vocal about this issue and support each other .

I mean, come on, 73k people signed a petition? That's just a drop in the ocean, if you ask me. I'm not saying it's not a good start, but let's be real, we need more than just a law to make some changes. It's like, what about the people who can't even access justice or get help because they're from rural areas? We need better infrastructure for these services, not just more laws. And by the way, the government is still being super slow with this whole thing... I mean, the law was supposed to be in effect on Friday, and now it's been a week already. What even is that?

im still in shock that it took so long for them to pass this law . 73k signatures is a huge number and im glad that they're speaking out. i feel like we need to go even further than just making it illegal, we should be teaching people how to protect themselves online and having better sex ed in schools too . its not just about the law, its about creating a culture where consent is valued and respected. im not sure if this new law will be enough for victims like jodie who have already been through so much trauma .

I mean, can you blame 'em for being salty? I'd be salty if someone shared a pic of me doing a karaoke rendition of "I Will Survive" without my consent . But seriously, 73k people signing a petition is like, woah! I guess that's what happens when you're feeling like you're stuck in a never-ending loop of "nudification" apps .

And don't even get me started on the fact that sex workers are still being left out in the cold. Like, hello? They're human beings too, not just copyright breaches . I mean, can we please just have a conversation about consent and respect online already? It's like, 2025 and we should know better by now .

But for real, let's hope this new law brings some much-needed protection to those who've been victimized by deepfakes. And maybe, just maybe, it'll also bring us closer to a world where online abuse is no longer a laughing matter .

I mean come on... 73k signatures and still they're worried? I get it, deepfake abuse is bad but it's not like we didn't know it was a thing. It's just people being stupid online . And what's with the petition to Downing Street? Did they really think that'd make a difference? I'm all for making it a crime and all, but let's not forget we're already talking about taking down takedown orders on platforms... that's not exactly rocket science . And sex workers are still being victimized because of the law not providing enough support . Can't we just sort this out without drama?

OMG, I'm so frustrated for these poor souls who got victimized by deepfake abuse ! It's like, you'd think with all the tech advancements we have, it would be way harder for people to share explicit images without consent, right? But nope, they still can't get justice fast enough . I mean, 73k+ signatures are a pretty strong petition, but let's hope it doesn't just get lost in the shuffle .

I'm also kinda annoyed that the law didn't address sex worker concerns more directly . Like, imagine having your work life ruined by someone sharing your personal content online without your consent – it's a nightmare! And don't even get me started on how many more victims are still out there... what if this law is just too little, too late?

I totally get why 73k+ people signed that petition, it's crazy that there are so many women (and men) getting exploited with deepfakes online . The new law is a good start, but I'm still worried that it won't be enough for those who've already been victimized . I think the government needs to step up its game and provide more support for victims, like better funding for services and more effective ways to tackle "nudification" apps . And can we talk about how sex workers are still getting screwed over by this law? It's like they're just expected to suffer in silence . More needs to be done to protect everyone, not just the ones who are already being targeted .

I'm literally so worried about people getting caught up in this deepfake abuse thing , it's getting out of hand. I mean, imagine someone sharing your explicit pics without consent... it's just not right . The new law is a good start, but what really worries me is that the current laws aren't doing enough for sex workers like Madeline Thomas who get harassed online all the time . We need to see more support for them and also some serious punishments for people behind these 'nudification' apps . And can we talk about how long it took for this law to be implemented? Like, millions of women got hurt while waiting for help... that's just not okay . I hope the gov really follows through on its promises and does more to protect us online .

I'm so sorry it took them this long to get a law in place . 73k+ people signing a petition is a huge amount and I think the gov should've taken action sooner . It's not just about deepfakes, though - it's about women being harassed online period . We need better support for victims like Jodie & Madeline . Takedown orders on platforms & devices would be a big help . And let's be real, the gov still has a lot of work to do if they wanna tackle this issue head-on .

This new law feels like a tiny crack in the wall of our online world , but is it enough? I mean, think about it, 73k people signing a petition already is a huge step forward , but what's driving them to do so? The fear of being victimized by deepfake abuse is real , and that's something we need to acknowledge. But at the same time, we gotta ask ourselves if we're just patching up the symptoms instead of dealing with the root cause.

I'm not sure if more laws or regulations are the answer , maybe it's about education , about making people understand that this isn't okay . We need to have these conversations , in schools, online, everywhere , so we can prevent these situations from happening in the first place. I mean, think about sex workers like Madeline Thomas who are already vulnerable , and then you add deepfakes into the mix... it's a recipe for disaster .

What do you guys think? Is this law just a start or is there more work to be done ?

This new law might seem like a victory for those who've been victimized by deepfake abuse, but what does it really mean in terms of systemic change? I mean, 73k signatures is a good start, but is that just a drop in the ocean when we're talking about the millions of women out there who are still being exploited online?

I think what's missing here is a deeper conversation around why this stuff happens in the first place. Is it really just about bad actors trying to cause harm? Or is it also about a societal culture that normalizes objectification and exploitation? We need to start asking ourselves those questions, rather than just piling on more laws.

And what about the sex workers who are being unfairly targeted by this law? Madeline's point that commercial images are seen as copyright breaches but cause real harm is so true. We need to be talking about how we can support them and provide them with better resources, not just locking them up for doing their job.

I'm so glad the new law took effect, but honestly, it feels kinda too little too late for some of these victims... like Jodie, she's been through so much and is still waiting for justice . Creating strict protection measures against deepfakes is a good start, but we need to go beyond just "criminal offense" – it's gotta be more than that .

Imagine making takedown orders on platforms & devices? That would be a game-changer! And having better sex ed and resources for victims too . We need to raise awareness about the consequences of deepfakes and how they can ruin lives... like Madeline's experience .

Let's keep pushing for more support and better laws – we're not there yet

I mean come on! A law that's 6 months late? You'd think they'd want to help these poor souls who are being victimized by deepfakes ASAP . I'm not buying the "we're doing this as an amendment" thing, sounds like a convenient excuse for being slow . These women deserve justice and support, so let's get on it already! And btw, what's with the "momentous day" phrase? Sounds like they're trying to sound extra important . Anyway, I hope these takedown orders for abusive imagery become a thing, that'd be sick .