Almost 150 European politicians, predominantly women, have found their likenesses in harmful deepfake pornography sites, according to new research. The study, by Benjamin Shultz, highlights the disproportionate targeting of female MPs, with 138 women from 22 EU countries having been either depicted or listed, compared to just nine male MPs.

The research, published by Agora Digitale Transformation, reveals that senior politicians are even more likely to be targeted. Suzanne Kröger, a Dutch MP, describes the findings as 'really deeply disturbing,' pointing to the psychological and reputational damage.

Shultz’s findings extend beyond political figures, encompassing celebrities, journalists, and other public figures. The websites, while not named, are accused of providing direct access to tools that can generate explicit content, potentially making the problem worse.

The proliferation of deepfakes, made more accessible by advanced AI, has sparked concern among lawmakers and researchers. While efforts to curb the issue are underway, the scale of the problem remains a significant challenge for European policymakers.