Study finds hundreds of EU women lawmakers targeted by AI-generated sexual deepfakes
A new Agora Digitale Transformation report says dozens of female EU parliamentarians have been hit by AI-created sexualized images, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of the upcoming nudifier ban.
According to a recent Agora Digitale Transformation analysis, AI-generated sexual deepfakes have been discovered for a large number of EU parliamentarians, including 46 newly identified female members. This brings the total of documented cases to at least 197, with 50 additional victims uncovered beyond the 147 cases reported last week. Lena Schilling testified that seeing fabricated nude photos of herself online caused severe distress and could discourage women from seeking political office.
In response, a coalition of 119 MEPs, led by Schilling and co-chair Terry Reintke, has sent a letter to the European Commission and national governments demanding swift action. The appeal stresses the need to fully implement the upcoming ban on AI tools that produce non-consensual sexual imagery, to equip authorities with adequate resources, and to hold online platforms and AI firms accountable for rapid removal of such content.
Why it matters
The abuse highlights a growing digital threat to women in politics and the urgency of enforcing AI-related privacy protections.
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