UK and Europe take steps to clamp down on non-consensual deepfake images
22/01/2026 | IAPP
While the newscycle has moved on to other events, the UK has enacted Section 138 under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUA Act), making it an offence to create or request the creation of non-consensual sexual images.
In enacting the provision, the UK government has fulfilled a commitment made by Liz Kendall, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, last week in response to the ongoing outrage over AI-generated sexualised deepfakes on X. Kendal said the UK would be "bringing in to force powers to criminalise the creation of intimate images without consent."
The change comes into force on 6 February 2026.
In Europe, the European Commission is also exploring a ban on AI-powered apps and tools that allow users to generate fake intimate images of individuals without consent. In comments given to Politico, Irish MEP Michael McNamara noted that AI-nudification apps are not currently included in the list of banned practices under the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act). While the problem wasn't previously envisaged, this should change as: "It’s clearly a harm that was envisaged to be banned under the prohibited practices," he said.
Meanwhile, the European Parliament Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) has invited TikTok and X to a meeting on 27 January 2026, to discuss the risks posed to children by sexualised AI-generated content.
The news comes as research reveals Grok generated approximately 3 million sexualised images in less than two weeks, including 23,000 images that appear to depict children.
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