The Jo Cox Foundation, working in partnership with the American Sunlight Project, ispleased to announce a new project gathering evidence on deepfake sexual abuse targeting UK MPs.
Supported by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, this project will track the prevalence of this and benchmark findings to drive much-needed legislative reform.
The problem
‘Deepfakes’ are a growing part of the disinformation ecosystem. Deepfake sexual abuse material make up the overwhelming majority of AI-generated media consumed today, with public figures – such as politicians – frequently targeted.
UK police have warned of their rising frequency and impact. As AI tools become more accessible and easy to use, creating and spreading this content is easier than ever.
Impact on MPs and democracy
Deepfakes are part of – and exacerbate – the worsening problem of abuse towards politicians. Reported crimes against MPs – including malicious communications, harassment, and damage to property – increased by 87% between 2023 and 2025. Research by academics and the UK Electoral Commission shows many elected representatives and candidates, particularly women, avoid certain political activities, such as participating in hustings or discussing perceived ‘controversial’ issues because of this hostile environment.
Women across party lines – including Cara Hunter MLA, Diane Forsyth MLA, Jess Asato MP, former MPs Dehenna Davison and Nadine Dorries – have publicly shared the impact that sexualised deepfakes have both on them as individuals and on the wider democratic system.
The Legislative gap
While the UK is a recognised global leader in addressing online harms – through the Online Safety Act in 2023 and Data and Use Access Act – significant legislative gaps remain.
The law has improved to target creators and some platforms, but more needs to be done to regulate the infrastructure that enables the creation and distribution of this content.
The new government’s commitment to online safety and its AI Task Force provide a crucial opportunity to close these gaps and tackle deepfake abuse.
The project
Over 12 months, we will track and analyse deepfake sexual abuse targeting UK MPs to build the evidence base needed for urgent policy reform.
This work unites the expertise of both organisations:
- The American Sunlight Project previously exposed political deepfake abuse in the US, directly catalysing policy change to address deepfake content via the TAKE IT DOWN Act, the flagship federal law criminalising the non-consensual publication of intimate images.
- The Jo Cox Foundation has a strong track record successfully advocating for policy and practice change in the UK to address the abuse and intimidation of elected representatives, including through our Jo Cox Civility Commission.
Together, we will hold decision-makers accountable and safeguard our democracy from the growing spread of deepfake abuse.
For more information, please contact [email protected]