Earlier this year, we had a major win , with the government confirming that it will criminalise the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes. But we know this is just the beginning. This issue is explored in Channel 4's new documentary, Vicky Pattison: My Deepfake Sex Tape, which sees Vicky create and distribute her own 'deepfake sex tape'.
While many have applauded the documentary's bold approach to raising awareness of image-based abuse, some survivors are concerned that the stunt trivialises their trauma. Here, GLAMOUR's Purpose Editor Lucy Morgan explores the strengths and weaknesses of the documentary, and speaks to survivors of image-based abuse about how the documentary's decision to release a consensual sexually explicit deepfake and the subsequent backlash made them feel.
Channel 4's latest documentary opens with Vicky and her husband, Ercan Ramadan, looking at a laptop in their kitchen. A blurred, deepfaked image of the actor Emma Watson engaged in an explicit sexual act. Ercan describes the image as a "very young version" of the actor. In that moment, Vicky expresses a relief that most survivors of deepfake abuse, including Emma Watson, will never know.
She gets to choose when enough is enough, how far is too far. The crux of the documentary is Vicky's decision to release her own sexually explicit deepfake, the idea being to expose how easy it is to create these images, and the impact it can have.
(mh=HH6Bu2Aed84CqWtU)11.jpg "Girls in Charlotte")
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. Next up? A comprehensive Image-Based Abuse Law. Last year, Jodie shared her story of being deepfaked by her best friend to help raise awareness of how the laws in the UK must change to better support survivors of image-based abuse.
