The Government has announced plans to create a framework aimed at identifying gaps in the detection of deepfakes.

We have commented previously (here) on the increasing sophistication of deepfakes and the challenged in addressing them given the limitations of existing laws. That said, some legislative measures have been introduced in the UK in this area, including the criminalisation of creating non-consensual intimate images and the banning of nudification tools. We have also discussed here how the EU AI Act seeks to address deepfakes.

Outside of legislation, other measures are being explored. For example, we recently discussed (here) a discussion paper from Ofcom which considered AI developers employing filters to prevent the creation of deepfakes, or embedding labelling or watermarks to identify when an image is not authentic.

Ofcom’s paper also highlighted the importance of using technology effectively to detect deepfakes, and the Government’s announcement indicates that it seeks to address precisely this issue. It states that tech companies, academics, and other experts will work together to test leading deepfake detection technologies with a view to establishing a ‘testing framework’ which, in turn, will be used to “set clear expectations for industries on deepfake detection standards”.

Commenting on the announcement, the Deputy Commissioner of the City of London Police, Nik Adams, said: “this new framework is a strong and timely addition to the UK’s response to the rapidly evolving threat posed by AI and deepfake technologies. As the national lead force for fraud, the City of London Police see first-hand how criminals are increasingly exploiting AI as a powerful tool in their arsenal to deceive victims, impersonate trusted individuals and scale harm at unprecedented speed. By rigorously testing deepfake technologies against real-world threats and setting clear expectations for industry, this framework will significantly bolster law enforcement’s ability to stay ahead of offenders, protect victims and strengthen public confidence as these technologies continue to evolve”.

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