Yazılar

Britain to Make Sexually Explicit Deepfakes a Crime

/in /tarafından

The British government announced on Tuesday that creating and sharing sexually explicit “deepfakes” will soon become a criminal offence in an effort to combat the growing problem of digitally manipulated images, often targeting women and girls. Deepfakes are AI-generated images, videos, or audio clips that convincingly alter a person’s likeness, commonly used to create pornographic content without consent.

While the UK has criminalized the publication of intimate images without consent under the “revenge porn” law since 2015, the new legislation specifically addresses the use of fake images, which were previously not covered. Data from the UK-based Revenge Porn Helpline revealed a staggering 400% increase in image-based abuse involving deepfakes since 2017.

The new law will make it a criminal offence to both create and distribute sexually explicit deepfakes. Offenders could face prosecution and penalties, with the justice ministry emphasizing that there is “no excuse” for creating such content without consent. This follows earlier proposals by the previous Conservative government, which also aimed to criminalize deepfake pornography, with offenders potentially facing fines or jail time.

In addition to the deepfake legislation, the government will introduce new offences related to taking intimate images without consent and installing equipment with the intent to create such content. Those found guilty could face up to two years in prison.

Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones described this type of abuse as “demeaning and disgusting,” adding that it should not be normalized. Technology Minister Margaret Jones highlighted that tech platforms hosting such images will face stricter scrutiny and significant penalties. Campaigner Jess Davies emphasized that this form of abuse is causing “significant, long-lasting harm” to women and girls, resulting in a loss of control over their digital lives.

These new offences will be included in the government’s Crime and Policing Bill, which is expected to be introduced to parliament, though a date for its presentation has not yet been set.

 

UK Anti-Trust Regulator to Launch Two Investigations Under New Digital Markets Powers

/in /tarafından

Britain’s anti-trust regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has announced it will initiate two investigations this month under its newly granted powers aimed at overseeing the country’s largest tech firms. These powers, introduced as part of the UK’s Digital Markets regime, are designed to encourage investment, innovation, and market growth while ensuring fair competition within the digital sector.

Under the new framework, the CMA can designate firms as having “Strategic Market Status” (SMS), which applies to the most dominant tech companies in specific digital activities. The threshold for SMS status is high, meaning only the largest and most influential companies will be subject to such investigations.

In November, the CMA suggested that Apple could be stifling innovation in the smartphone browser market and indicated it might investigate the duopoly of Apple and Google in mobile ecosystems. The new regulatory powers came into effect this month, allowing the CMA to explore these concerns further.

The regulator confirmed it expects to launch two investigations this month, with more details to be provided in due course. A third investigation is slated to begin after approximately six months. Each investigation will have a statutory completion time of nine months.

The CMA’s investigations will likely focus on issues such as preventing dominant players from suppressing smaller competitors by prioritizing their own services, facilitating easier transitions between digital providers while retaining user data, and fostering competition to drive growth.

This move follows increased scrutiny of mergers and acquisitions post-Brexit, with the CMA now playing a more prominent role in regulating the tech sector. Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged the regulator in October to focus more on growth, with the new digital markets regime aimed at boosting the UK’s appeal to tech companies while ensuring consumers have access to competitive options at fair prices.

 

UK to Pursue Independent Path on AI Regulation, Says Starmer

/in /tarafından

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain will establish its own approach to artificial intelligence (AI) regulation, setting it apart from other nations’ strategies. During a statement on Monday, Starmer emphasized that while various countries are adopting different frameworks, the UK now has full control over its regulatory landscape.

“We will go our own way on this,” Starmer declared, asserting the country’s autonomy in crafting AI rules. He added that the UK would thoroughly test and understand AI technologies before implementing regulations. This approach aims to ensure that when regulation does occur, it will be “proportionate and grounded.”