Deepfake Pornography Fight: PBS News Weekend Examines Global Efforts, US Federal Law Gap

In a significant segment aired on PBS News Weekend on May 18, 2025, the focus turned to the escalating global challenge posed by deepfake pornography and other forms of non-consensual imagery. The discussion highlighted the pervasive nature of such content, pointing to sites like “Mr. Deepfakes,” which was reported to have attracted a staggering 18 million users, underscoring the immense scale of the issue.

The Pervasive Threat of Non-Consensual Imagery

Deepfake technology, which utilizes artificial intelligence to create realistic fabricated images and videos, has become a potent tool for generating non-consensual explicit content, often targeting individuals without their consent. The segment on PBS News Weekend brought to light the sheer volume of this material circulating online, exemplified by the reported 18 million users of a single platform, “Mr. Deepfakes.” This statistic serves as a stark indicator of the widespread availability and consumption of deepfake pornography and other unauthorized intimate imagery.

Legislative Responses and Investigative Journalism

Efforts to combat this harmful content are underway on multiple fronts. The program noted that legislative changes are a crucial part of the strategy. For instance, the U.K. has implemented new laws specifically addressing non-consensual imagery, aiming to provide stronger legal tools for prosecution and victim protection. Parallel to legislative action, the role of investigative journalism was also highlighted as essential in uncovering the extent of the problem, identifying perpetrators, and drawing public and governmental attention to the issue.

Patchwork of U.S. State Laws

Within the U.S., the legal landscape is more fragmented. The PBS News Weekend discussion elaborated on the emergence of various U.S. state laws designed to tackle deepfake pornography and non-consensual imagery. These state-level statutes vary significantly in their scope and approach. Some laws are primarily civil, allowing victims to sue for damages or seek injunctions to have content removed. Others are criminal, potentially leading to prosecution and penalties for those who create or share such material.

Furthermore, some of these state laws include specific requirements for technology platforms, sometimes mandating that they remove reported non-consensual imagery within a timeframe, such as 48 hours, once a valid request is received. While these state-level initiatives represent progress, their inconsistency can create challenges for enforcement and comprehensive protection across the nation.

The Absence of a Comprehensive Federal Law

A critical point emphasized during the PBS News Weekend segment was the notable absence of a comprehensive federal law in the U.S. specifically criminalizing the publication of this type of non-consensual deepfake and other intimate imagery. The lack of a unified federal standard means that prosecution can be more difficult, and legal recourse for victims may depend heavily on the specific state in which the offense occurred or the victim resides.

Experts and advocates argue that enacting a comprehensive federal law criminalizing the publication of deepfake pornography and non-consensual imagery would significantly raise the stakes for perpetrators, providing a stronger deterrent and ensuring more consistent legal avenues for justice nationwide. Such a law would establish a clear federal stance against this form of digital abuse and could facilitate more effective collaboration among law enforcement agencies across state lines.

Conclusion: An Ongoing Battle

The PBS News Weekend segment on May 18, 2025, underscored that the fight against deepfake pornography and non-consensual imagery is an ongoing and complex battle. While legislative steps in regions like the U.K. and the development of varied U.S. state laws signal growing recognition of the problem, the reported scale of platforms like “Mr. Deepfakes” with its 18 million users highlights the persistent challenges. The absence of a comprehensive federal law criminalizing the publication of this content in the U.S. remains a significant gap, indicating the continued need for robust legal frameworks and sustained efforts from journalists, policymakers, and technology companies to protect individuals from this invasive and harmful digital threat.