Is it illegal?
Sharing a sexual deepfake of a real person without consent is a crime in England and Wales, Scotland, the US, Canada, Australia and South Africa. In England and Wales, simply creating one, or asking someone else to, has also been a crime since 6 February 2026. Any sexual image depicting a child, real or AI-generated, is illegal everywhere.
What are deepfakes and nudify apps?
A deepfake is an image, video or audio clip created or altered with AI to show a real person doing or saying something they never did. A nudify or "undress" app uses AI to generate a fake nude from a normal photo, often one taken from social media. The results are fake, but the harm to the person shown is real: humiliation, harassment, sextortion and damage to their relationships and career.
The law, country by country
| Place | Creating a deepfake nude | Sharing one | Nudify tools |
|---|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | Crime since 6 Feb 2026 (Sexual Offences Act 2003, ss.66E and 66F) | Crime since Jan 2024 (s.66B) | Making or supplying them is a crime under the Crime and Policing Act 2026 |
| Scotland | Not yet a specific offence. Consultation held in 2026 | Crime (2016 Act covers altered images) | Not specifically covered |
| Northern Ireland | Proposed | Not clearly covered. New offences proposed | Not specifically covered |
| Ireland | Amendment to Coco's Law being debated | Likely covered by Coco's Law | Not specifically covered |
| USA | Varies by state | Federal crime (TAKE IT DOWN Act), and in most states | Varies by state |
| Canada | Not a specific offence | Crime since 18 July 2026 (s.162.1) | Not specifically covered |
| Australia | Crime in some states, e.g. NSW since Feb 2026 | Federal crime (s.474.17A), up to 7 years if you also created it | Ban announced |
| New Zealand | Bill before Parliament | Bill before Parliament | Not specifically covered |
| South Africa | Not a specific offence | Crime ("simulated" images, Cybercrimes Act s.16) | Not specifically covered |
Deepfakes of under-18s
Creating, sharing or having a sexual image of anyone under 18 is illegal whether it's a photograph, a drawing or AI-generated. This includes "nudifying" a classmate's photo as a "joke". Schools and police across the UK, US and Australia are dealing with a growing number of these cases, and they are treated as child sexual abuse material. If it's happened to you or your child, use Report Remove (UK) or Take It Down.
If someone made a deepfake of you
Collect evidence
Screenshot where it appears, with the URL, the account and the date. Save any messages linked to it.
Use StopNCII
StopNCII.org works for synthetic images too. Hash the fake image (if you have a copy) to help block it on partner platforms.
Report it everywhere it appears
Use the platform's "non-consensual intimate imagery" or "synthetic or manipulated media" report option. Google and Bing have dedicated forms to remove deepfake nudes from search results.
Get support and report it
In the UK, the Revenge Porn Helpline (0345 6000 459) supports deepfake victims. You can report it to the police, and in England and Wales the creator may have committed an offence even if they never shared it.
Reducing your risk
- Make social media profiles private, and limit who can see and download your photos
- Be cautious about public, high-resolution, full-body photos
- Watch out for "AI photo editor" apps and bots that ask for your photos
- If you're sexting, remember that even a clothed selfie can be misused by someone you can't trust
Using AI for sexting yourself
AI chat companions and image generators used with fictional adults, or with your own images, are a different thing. That's covered in our guide to AI sexting. The line is simple: never use AI to sexualise a real person without their consent, and never anything involving minors.
Need help right now?
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 (UK), 112 (Ireland/EU), 911 (US/Canada) or 000 (Australia).
- Images shared or threatened (adults, UK): Revenge Porn Helpline, revengepornhelpline.org.uk or 0345 6000 459
- Stop images spreading (worldwide, adults): StopNCII.org
- Under 18: Childline's Report Remove tool at childline.org.uk or call 0800 1111. Outside the UK: Take It Down
- More countries and services: see our help and support directory