AI deepfakes are targeting women in politics at alarming rates

A new report has found that women in Congress are 70 times more likely to be targeted by deepfakes than men, often with sexually explicit images created by AI.

The American Sunlight Project (ASP) found that out of over 35,000 images of politicians, 26 different people have been exposed to non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII).

Out of these, 25 were women. Strikingly, one in six congress women have fallen victim to non-consensual imagery.

This is particularly concerning as Congress has previously introduced bills such as the Defiance Act, which criminalizes such activity. However, according to news outlet the 19th, due to the bureaucracy of the American political system, the House is still awaiting approval to finalize the legislation.

In a separate study by the Center for Countering Digital Hate, an analysis of the comments on Instagram posts for women currently in power found that one in ten comments was highly likely to be toxic, with a staggering 93% of reports ignored by Instagram, as previously reported.

As the ASP intervened, the politicians were informed of the images, which were subsequently deleted. Nonetheless, as Nina Jankowicz, an online harassment expert and author of this report, points out, this still calls for a louder "legislative reckoning.”

Jankowicz who was herself a victim herself of significant abuse, including being called a “tranny Jew" in April, seems determined to fight this kind of abuse and further highlights the need to protect women of color and teenage girls.

Research has shown that around 41% of women between the ages of 18 and 29 self-censor what they post online in order to avoid harassment and abuse.

Therefore, it’s not just women in politics who are in danger of being exposed here, but women in society as a whole.

Overall a stronger push for tech regulation should be the driving force in 2025, but how much is actually done to combat this issue remains to be seen.