AI deepfake porn humiliated me, says Penny Mordaunt

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Former Conservative cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt revealed in an interview with BBC Newsnight how deeply shaken she was to discover that she had become a victim of “deliberately humiliating and violent” deepfake porn during her time as an MP. She explained that her face had been manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI) in the production of deepfake porn, which had also targeted “a number of parliamentarians.”

The issue of deepfake porn was brought to Mordaunt’s attention after a Channel 4 documentary by Cathy Newman exposed the exploitation of her, along with other senior female politicians like Dame Priti Patel and Angela Rayner. Newman, who was also a victim, expressed how violating the experience was, emphasizing that the video showed her face but not her hair. These revelations sparked outrage and prompted the government to propose criminalizing the creation or dissemination of sexually explicit deepfakes.

During her interview, Mordaunt stressed her concern over the impact of deepfake porn on children, emphasizing the need for age restrictions on online platforms to prevent young individuals from being exposed to harmful content. She expressed support for Australia’s ban on social media platforms for under-16s and called for more decisive action from authorities, citing figures such as Elon Musk as potential contributors to the solution.

Throughout her political career, Mordaunt has held various senior positions within Conservative governments, including a brief tenure as the UK’s first female defense secretary. Her involvement in the coronation of King Charles III, where she wielded a ceremonial sword for an extended period, was a significant highlight. Despite her political achievements, Mordaunt lost her seat in the Portsmouth North constituency in the previous general election, joining several other prominent Conservative figures in facing defeat

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More

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