Tech firms face tougher UK rules on intimate image abuse

"Ofcom said it would change its codes of practice to force service providers to detect and quash intimate image abuse sometimes called revenge porn and crack down on AI-generated deepfakes. A wave of deepfakes emerged in January when Elon Musk's Grok AI was widely used to create sexualised videos of women in bikinis. Women and girls have long complained of the difficulty of getting distressing images and videos shared without their consent taken down from public sites."

"The guidelines come as Ofcom warned that such images were increasing in prevalence, with generative AI only making things worse, and said there was an urgent need to reduce the spread of intimate image abuse online. The new code follows a threatened legal challenge against the regulator by the campaign group End Violence Against Women and Girls, whose lawyers complained Ofcom was failing to tackle these sites and failing in its obligations to protect women and girls."

"Intimate images are classed as those that show nudity or a sexual act, a person's genitals, buttocks or breasts covered only with underwear, or a person going to the toilet. Ofcom is now urging sites to use hash-matching technology, which detects violating intimate images shared without consent and automatically stops them being circulated further. The guidelines aim to prevent what the technology secretary, Liz Kendall, on Monday called a never-ending nightmare for victims of intimate image abuse."

"In February, Keir Starmer said that deepfake nudes and revenge porn must be removed from the internet within 48 hours or technology firms risked being blocked in the UK, calling it a national emergency that the government must confront. A particular concern for campaigners is niche online forums where people trade intimate images taken without con"

Social media, messaging platforms, and online forums that share intimate image abuse are being required to follow new guidelines to prevent further spread. Ofcom will change its codes of practice to compel service providers to detect and remove intimate image abuse, sometimes called revenge porn, and to crack down on AI-generated deepfakes. A wave of deepfakes emerged in January after Grok AI was widely used to create sexualised videos of women. Women and girls report difficulty getting non-consensual images and videos taken down. Ofcom warns that prevalence is increasing and that generative AI makes harm worse. The guidance includes urging sites to use hash-matching technology to identify violating images and automatically stop circulation. The rules follow legal pressure from a campaign group and government calls for rapid removal within 48 hours.

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