Question reference: S6W-26991
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 24 April 2024
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Current status: Answered by Angela Constance on 7 May 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is collaborating with (a) other governments across the UK, (b) law enforcement agencies and (c) technology platforms to address the reported proliferation of sexually explicit deepfakes, and what resources are being allocated for (i) education and (ii) prevention of any associated crimes.
Answer
Regulation of the internet is a reserved matter falling to the UK Government and Parliament. Within that context, the Scottish Government engages with the UK Government and Ofcom, the new online safety regulator, on the implementation of the UK Government Online Safety Act in Scotland to address illegal and harmful material on the internet.
Decisions about operational policing priorities are a matter for Police Scotland, which is operationally independent of the Scottish Ministers. Where alleged criminal activity relating to intimate image abuse, including where this involves 'deepfakes', is reported to Police Scotland, they will investigate with a view to determining whether there is sufficient evidence to report to Crown Office for consideration of prosecution.
In 2023, Police Scotland undertook a 4-week online child sexual abuse and exploitation media campaign targeting sexual predators who groom and abuse children online, including through use of sexually explicit 'deepfake' images. Police Scotland's Cyberharm Prevention Team are also undertaking a National "sextortion" Prevention Campaign aimed at education and support for those affected by crimes of extortion, including people affected by "deepfake" images.
In terms of resources allocated to education and prevention, school pupils learn how to conduct online relationships safely and understand the risks and consequences of sharing intimate images. The Scottish Government's Gender-Based Violence in School Guidance makes clear that this includes non-consensual sharing of sexual images or threatening to do so.
The Scottish Government also funds Education Scotland to coordinate the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme, focussed on challenging attitudes underpinning gender-based violence, and supports schools to access Rape Crisis Scotland's National Sexual Violence Prevention programme.