Over 100 politicians in Europe targeted by sexual deepfake websites

According to WIRED, new research has found nearly 150 European politicians have appeared on sexually explicit deepfake websites, with women targeted 33 times more often than men. The outlet reports researcher Benjamin Shultz analyzed 160 domains and found at least 138 women lawmakers from 22 EU countries listed, compared with only nine men.

WIRED says the study, published by German think tank Agora Digitale Transformation, covered more than 5,800 national MPs, with Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and France most affected. Dutch MP Suzanne Kröger called the findings “deeply disturbing,” WIRED notes, while the report links the abuse to broader efforts intimidating women in public life and discouraging them from politics.