German actress targeted by AI deepfake pornography, outcry prompts proposed legal reform

Summary

Germany is considering criminalizing the production and distribution of pornographic deep fakes following a case involving actress Collien Fernandes, who accused her former husband, actor Christian Ulmen, of spreading sexualized images of her online. The incident, reported by Der Spiegel, has sparked public debate in Germany about digital violence. Over 250 prominent German women have called for legal reforms to address "digital sexualized violence." Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig announced plans for a draft bill to make the creation and sharing of such deep fakes a criminal offense. A recent study found that one in five women and one in seven men in Germany have experienced digital violence in the last five years, with only 2.4% of cases reported to police. In response, thousands demonstrated in Berlin against sexualized digital violence and in support of victims.