Professor Clare McGlynn’s research helps shape landmark deepfake abuse ruling in Australia
Leading women’s law expert Professor Clare McGlynn from our top-rated Law School has played a key role in a groundbreaking court case in Australia that strengthens the international fight against deepfake sexual abuse.
Major fine for deepfake abuse
The case, eSafety Commissioner v Rotondo, was heard in the Federal Court of Australia and centred on sexually explicit deepfake images (AI-generated pictures that falsely show people in explicit situations).
The defendant had posted these images online and initially refused to remove them.
The court imposed a major financial penalty of more than £220,000, sending a strong message that this type of abuse is serious and will not be tolerated.
Expert evidence
Professor McGlynn provided expert evidence that played a vital part in the court’s decision.
Her research helped the court to understand that:
- Civil penalties can discourage future offenders by showing there are real consequences for this behaviour.
- The harm caused by deepfake sexual abuse is just as severe as that caused by the sharing of real intimate images.
- The main harm comes from the images being shared and viewed, regardless of whether they are genuine or digitally altered.
Drawing on survivor experiences and years of research, Professor McGlynn highlighted the devastating psychological, emotional and reputational impact of this abuse.
Strengthening legal protection
Following the ruling, Professor McGlynn said: “This judgment is a powerful recognition of the serious harms caused by deepfake sexual abuse.
“It affirms that the distribution and viewing of such material—not whether it is ‘real’—is what causes harm.
“It also shows that regulators can challenge the seeming inevitability of this abuse and secure meaningful penalties.”
This case creates an important precedent and a significant step forward in tackling online sexual abuse.
Find out more
- Learn more about the work of Professor Clare McGlynn.
- Visit Professor Clare McGlynn’s personal website.
- Read the full judgement by Federal Court of Australia.
- Interested in studying at Durham? Explore our undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
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