12-Year-Old Girl Targeted by Deepfake Bullying Image, Family Criticizes Police Response

A 12-year-old girl has become a victim of bullying after schoolmates shared a pornographic deepfake image of her on social media, prompting her family to express dissatisfaction with the police response. Initially, West Yorkshire Police informed the girl's parents that no action could be taken due to the image being shared on Snapchat, a platform based in the United States. Following public outcry, the police have since apologized and committed to a thorough investigation of the incident. The family, who remain anonymous to protect the child's identity, reported the incident to the police in June after discovering the image. Despite a police visit, they received a text nine days later stating that the case was closed without identifying any suspects. The girl's mother expressed frustration, stating that the police seemed indifferent and failed to take necessary steps to prevent further dissemination of the image, which has since spread across the girl's social media accounts. In response to the family's concerns, a West Yorkshire Police spokesperson acknowledged the mishandling of the case and emphasized that the officer involved has been advised on proper victim care. The police have since reached out to the family to reassure them of the ongoing investigation. Snapchat has condemned the sharing of explicit deepfake images, labeling such actions as abhorrent and illegal. The Online Safety Act, enacted last year, criminalizes the distribution of manipulated explicit images, with further legislation expected to address the creation of deepfakes involving adults.