In a bold move to highlight the threat of deepfake technology, New Zealand Member of Parliament Laura McClure displayed an AI-generated nude image of herself during a parliamentary session. The image, the MP said was created in under five minutes using readily available online tools.
"This image is a naked image of me, but it's not real," McClure said, adding that the ease with which such convincing fake images can be produced. She described the experience as "absolutely terrifying," noting the psychological impact even when knowing the image was fabricated.
McClure shared the image on her Instagram account, and said, "Today in Parliament, I showed an AI-generated nude deepfake of myself to show how real and easy these are to create. The problem isn't the tech itself, but how it's being misused to abuse people. Our laws need to catch up."
The MP is advocating for legislative amendments to include deepfakes under existing laws that prohibit the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. She said in Parliament that deepfakes can be as harmful, if not more so, than real images, as they can depict individuals in fabricated, often degrading scenarios.
McClure's actions have sparked a national debate on the ethical and legal challenges of deepfakes, highlighting the urgent need for updated laws to protect against digital abuse.