New Zealand sports reporter targeted by AI-generated deepfake video circulated online after social media post
Summary
A New Zealand sports reporter, Tiffany Salmond, discovered that an AI-generated deepfake video using her photos had been circulated online hours after she posted a bikini-clad photo on social media. The video was shared in anonymous online forums and chats, causing her distress and highlighting the misuse of AI technology. Salmond, who works as a freelance journalist covering NRL games, stated the issue is about power and control, not attraction, and urged men to condemn the behavior. She has not reported the incident to the police due to the low likelihood of identifying the perpetrator but has spoken out to raise awareness. The incident is part of a growing trend of AI-generated abuse targeting women, including other female athletes like NRLW player Jaime Chapman. In 2024, a Taranaki grandmother was also defrauded of $224,000 by scammers using a deepfake video of a political figure.
Incident Details
Unauthorized collection, tracking, or exposure of personal data and private information.
Sources
1This incident is documented by a single source. Source count reflects coverage in our monitored feeds, not the totality of reporting, and we do not evaluate publication quality.