Federal Cabinet Passes Law Against Sexualized Deepfakes and Digital Voyeurism

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The Federal Cabinet adopted a draft law against sexualized deepfakes and digital voyeurism on Wednesday. The aim is to better protect victims of digital violence in the future.

According to Spiegel, the draft creates several new criminal provisions. It is intended to address two growing forms of digital assault: the distribution of manipulated, sexualized images using artificial intelligence and the secret observation or filming of people in digital contexts.

What those affected need to know

The draft provides for the new criminal offenses to be more clearly defined, making it easier for those affected to take action against such assaults. The current overview does not specify concrete penalty ranges and details on application – the final version must still pass the Bundestag and Bundesrat.

The federal government is responding with the initiative to a development that has occupied law enforcement authorities and counseling centers for years: the mass availability of AI tools that can be used to generate deceptively real nude images of actual people in a short time.

Next steps in the legislative process

After the cabinet decision, parliamentary deliberations begin. Only when the Bundestag and Bundesrat have approved will the new regulations take effect. Until then: Those affected can contact the police and specialized counseling centers – secure evidence such as screenshots and do not delete them.