Cara Hunter, a member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), has once again called attention to the dangers of deepfake technology following the creation of a false and pornographic video featuring her face. The video, which was circulated widely on WhatsApp and social media ahead of the 2022 Stormont elections, involved the manipulation of Hunter’s face, placing it onto another person’s body without her consent. Nearly three years after the incident, the person responsible for creating the video has yet to be identified.
Deepfakes—videos or images altered using artificial intelligence (AI) to superimpose one person’s face onto another—have raised alarms across the world. These manipulations can be incredibly realistic, often making it difficult for viewers to tell that they are fake. In this case, the deepfake video was highly convincing and caused considerable distress for Hunter, who was targeted maliciously. Despite an investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), they were unable to make any progress due to the lack of appropriate laws addressing deepfake technology and insufficient resources for cybercrime investigations.
Hunter, who serves as an assembly member for East Londonderry, has become a prominent advocate for stronger legislation to combat the creation of deepfake media. She is pushing for laws that would make it a criminal offence to create such content, specifically when it is used to harm or defame an individual.
Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme, Hunter emphasized how damaging the deepfake incident had been to her mental health and personal life. “What’s very sad is that we’re now almost three years on from what happened to me, and right now, the same thing could happen again—to any woman, to any child, to any man,” she said. “This technology is being misused in a very sinister way, and it’s terrifying to think that there is someone out there who would have such animosity toward you to do something like this.”
She pointed out that, unlike in other parts of the world, Northern Ireland lacks a robust legal framework to address the issues surrounding deepfakes. For example, in Germany, AI centers have been established to provide support and resources for victims of deepfake technology, helping them navigate the process of having their image removed from such content. Unfortunately, no such system exists in Northern Ireland, leaving victims like Hunter with limited recourse.
The PSNI has been sympathetic to Hunter’s case, but their hands are tied due to the absence of specific laws related to deepfakes. While Hunter appreciated their support, she also pointed out that they cannot pursue the matter further without the legal backing to do so. Hunter has urged the Department of Justice (DoJ) to prioritize cybercrime in their budgeting and future policy decisions, arguing that more needs to be done to protect citizens from malicious digital content.
Hunter also highlighted the emotional and psychological toll that such incidents take on victims. “It’s not just a video—it’s your reputation, your personal life, and your safety that’s being compromised. The lasting impact of something like this can be profound, and it’s something I continue to struggle with,” she shared. “This could happen to anyone, and the longer the legal system takes to catch up, the more vulnerable we all become.”
As part of her ongoing campaign to raise awareness about deepfakes, Hunter will appear in an upcoming Channel 4 documentary on the issue. The documentary, directed and produced by TV presenter Vicky Pattison, will explore the dangers of deepfakes and the emotional toll they take on victims. Pattison, a former reality TV star, will feature in a deepfake video herself as part of the documentary, further underscoring the growing concerns around the misuse of such technology.
Pattison’s involvement highlights the widespread impact that deepfakes have, not just on politicians like Hunter, but also on celebrities, public figures, and ordinary people. The technology has the potential to destroy lives, reputations, and careers, and there is an urgent need for a legal framework to prevent its abuse.
Currently, the PSNI continues to investigate the matter, but without proper legal tools at their disposal, they are limited in their ability to bring the creator of the deepfake video to justice. Hunter’s experience sheds light on the broader issue of digital manipulation and the growing concern over the unchecked rise of AI-generated media.
