Question reference: S6W-26992
- 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 what steps it is taking to protect women and other vulnerable groups from the creation and distribution of sexually explicit deepfake images.
Answer
Legislation criminalising the disclosure of intimate images includes photographs or films that have been digitally enhanced or manipulated. As such, the law covers 'deepfake' images that have been digitally manipulated so as to appear to depict the person to be in an intimate situation. It is an operational matter for Police Scotland to enforce relevant laws.
The Scottish Government has provided funding of £138,527.50 to the South West Grid for Learning over two and a half years to support the delivery of practical support for people affected by intimate image abuse via the Revenge Porn Helpline. This includes support to remove images from online platforms and signposting for emotional support. The funded activity includes work to raise awareness and understanding of intimate image abuse and the support available through the helpline in Scotland.