Australia moves to crack down on deepfake nudes, online stalking

Australia said Tuesday it will oblige tech giants to prevent online tools from being used to create deepfake nudes or stalk people without detection.

“Nudify” apps — AI tools that digitally strip off clothing or generate sexualised imagery — have exploded online, sparking warnings that so-called sextortion scams targeting children are surging.

The government said it would work with industry on developing new legislation against AI-driven “nudification” and online stalking, without providing a timeline.

“There is no place for apps and technologies that are used solely to abuse, humiliate and harm people, especially our children,” Communications Minister Anika Wells said.

The government would use “every lever” to restrict access to stalking apps, placing the onus on tech companies to block them, Wells said.

“While this move won’t eliminate the problem of abusive technology in one fell swoop, alongside existing laws and our world-leading online safety reforms, it will make a real difference in protecting Australians,” she added.

The proliferation of AI tools has led to new forms of abuse impacting children, including pornography scandals at universities and schools worldwide, where teenagers create sexualized images of their own classmates.

A recent Save the Children survey found that one in five young people in Spain have been victims of deepfake nudes, with those images shared online without their consent.

Australia has been at the forefront of global efforts to curb internet harm, especially that targeted at children.

The country passed landmark laws in November restricting under-16s from social media — one of the world’s toughest crackdowns on popular sites such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X.

Social media giants — which face fines of up to Aus$49.5 million (US$32 million) if they fail to comply with the teen ban — have described the laws as “vague”, “problematic” and “rushed”.

It is unclear how people will verify their ages in order to sign up to social media.

The law will come into force by the end of this year.

An independent study ordered by the government found this week that age checking can be done “privately, efficiently and effectively”.

Age assurance is possible through a range of technologies, but “no single solution fits all contexts”, the study’s final report said.

AFP