Baroness Owen pushes for deepfake porn ban in UK

Charlotte Owen, now Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge, became one of the youngest members of the House of Lords at age 30 after receiving a life peerage from Boris Johnson in his resignation honours list. Following her controversial appointment, she has introduced her first Private Members' Bill aimed at criminalizing the creation and solicitation of non-consensual deepfake pornography. This legislation seeks to address the growing issue of 'disproportionately sexist' explicit images that can harm victims, particularly women. Baroness Owen's bill is a response to the inadequacies of current laws, which only prohibit the sharing of such content. She emphasizes the need for victims to have the power to declare this behavior as criminal, highlighting the responsibility of big tech companies in allowing deepfake imagery to proliferate on their platforms. Her initiative comes after the previous government's commitment to strengthen legislation fell through due to the election. In an interview, she expressed her surprise at her appointment and acknowledged the scrutiny she faces as an unelected member of the House of Lords. However, she insists that her focus is on helping victims of deepfake technology rather than addressing her critics. Owen aims to advocate for women at risk of becoming victims, emphasizing the importance of combating falsehoods and disinformation online. The introduction of this bill marks a significant step in addressing the challenges posed by deepfake technology, aiming to empower victims and hold perpetrators accountable. Baroness Owen's efforts reflect a growing recognition of the need for legal frameworks to protect individuals from the misuse of technology in the digital age.