Deepfake Technology Raises Ethical Concerns in Politics

Cara Hunter, an Irish politician, experienced a harrowing incident involving deepfake technology that nearly derailed her career. In April 2022, just weeks before the Northern Ireland assembly elections, she received a notification from a stranger on Facebook Messenger questioning if she was in a pornographic video circulating on WhatsApp.

The video featured a woman who appeared to have her face engaged in explicit acts. Hunter described the moment as akin to watching a horror movie, especially as she sat surrounded by family celebrating her grandmother's 90th birthday.

As a result of the deepfake, Hunter's phone was inundated with vitriolic messages from strangers, revealing the harsh realities of online harassment and misogyny. The incident reflects a growing trend where deepfake technology is misused to create pornographic content, with studies showing that 98% of online deepfakes are pornographic and 99% of the targets are women.

Despite the trauma, Hunter managed to win her seat in the assembly by just 14 votes, making her position the most marginal in Northern Ireland. Following the incident, she became a vocal advocate for legislation against deepfake intimate image abuse.

In the UK, the Online Safety Act and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 are steps towards criminalizing such acts, yet public awareness remains low, with one in four people still viewing the creation and sharing of sexual deepfakes as acceptable.

Hunter's experience illustrates the profound impact of deepfake technology on women in politics and raises ethical questions about its use in the political landscape. As she reflected on the situation, she expressed concern that similar incidents could deter young women from pursuing political careers.

Hunter emphasized the need for mandatory markings on AI-generated videos to inform viewers about their authenticity. The implications of deepfakes extend beyond personal trauma; they pose risks to democratic processes, as evidenced by manipulated videos targeting political figures like Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Hunter continues to navigate the complexities of her political life while advocating for change, but she remains uncertain about her future in politics amidst the ethical dilemmas posed by deepfake technology.