Author Helen Mort discusses her experience of deepfake image abuse
The Sheffield poet shares her story during a panel discussion on the subject
Last updated 11 hours ago
Helen Mort, a poet and creative writing professor at Manchester Metropolitan University, has opened up about her experience of deepfake image abuse - as part of our new Deepfaked podcast.
It was back in 2021 that Helen was told by a friend about manipulated images of her circulating online.
"I was terrified... I was absolutely panicking."
Recalling that moment, she says:
"I found it a totally bewildering experience because there was just nothing out there about it which is why this conversation is so welcome...
"My first thought was why would someone do this or what have I done to deserve this? Even that response I now think is problematic; it shouldn't be about you or what's brought it on, but about, I guess, how can we stop this."
She shared how she dealt with a whirlwind of emotions following the ordeal and couldn't help but question the motives behind it.
The Impact of deepfake image abuse
During the podcast discussion, Helen shared that what happened was particularly challenging for her because the deepfake images featured elements of extreme violence:
"Some of the most disturbing deep fake images that had been made of me were the ones that were most obviously fake... it doesn't matter to me if anyone could look at it and know it's not me.
"What matters is that I could summon up those images right now if I close my eyes, like they're there and I'll never unsee them. It might not be a real event that it's depicting, might not be something that physically happened to you, but the image that stayed with me is a real thing that lives in our imagination.
"That's the impact it has on you, which should be what matters, not the not the realness or otherwise."
You can watch the podcast discussion here.
The Sheffield based poet who grew up in Derbyshire says she found solace in joining a community of women who faced similar experiences, looking to transform their traumatic encounters into positive advocacy.
In her quest to manage the experience, Helen relied on her craft by writing poetry as an outlet.
She mentioned that through her poems, she aimed at reclaiming power, using words to reframe the narrative and raise awareness of the damaging effects of deepfake abuse.
Helen's poem, titled "My Blonde GF," uses the same words and language from the deepfake threads that were made of her, and reflects the sentiments of exploitation and reclaiming one's story.
Since this happened to her, Helen has continued to campaign for legislative change, noting that the problem is less about "why perpetrators do it" and more about how society can stop it from happening.
She highlights the invisibility of those who create these images, saying that there's a need for accountability and greater control on a legal and social level.
The law on deepfakes
The legal landscape surrounding deepfake image abuse has significantly strengthened.
In February this year, the act of creating sexually explicit deepfakes without consent was made illegal. Meaning the law now recognises creating, sharing and threatening to share these types of images as a criminal offence.
It is punishable through unlimited fines, a criminal record, or time behind bars.
Tech platforms are also responsible for removing any illegal deepfake content or intimate images shared without consent, and under new rules, have to do so within 48 hours.
A ban on ‘nudification’ tools is also underway, that would be criminalising those who design and supply these sorts of apps and sites.
Looking ahead, the Government's aiming to produce a framework for industries to better assess deepfake content on their platforms.
You can read more about the other women involved in the roundtable, including MP Jess Asato, here.
In the podcast, themes like freedom of speech, tech company responsibilities, and societal norms came up.
Off the back of that, our panel expressed a wish to see educational change, particularly around misogynistic behaviour and the perception of women online.
Helen stresses it's the underlying misogyny that needs to be addressed, suggesting that whole communities should engage in dialogue around consent and dignity.
Going back to the moment she found out, she said "I was terrified... I was absolutely panicking. It was more the initial sort of shock of what a weird thing to happen."
If you, or someone you know has been deepfaked
If you've been impacted by deepfakes or online image abuse, you can get support and advice from:
The Cyber Helpline who offer advice to victims of online harm.
The Revenge Porn Helpline supports all adult victims of intimate image abuse in the UK.
And the Police have advice about the next steps you can take if you've been a victim.