Latest news with #LauraMcClure
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
New Zealand MP Laura McClure displays deepfake AI nude image of herself in Parliament to urge legal reform
In a bold move to highlight the threat of deepfake technology, New Zealand Member of Parliament Laura McClure displayed an AI-generated nude image of herself during a parliamentary session. The image, the MP said was created in under five minutes using readily available online tools. "This image is a naked image of me, but it's not real," McClure said, adding that the ease with which such convincing fake images can be produced. She described the experience as "absolutely terrifying," noting the psychological impact even when knowing the image was fabricated. McClure shared the image on her Instagram account, and said, "Today in Parliament, I showed an AI-generated nude deepfake of myself to show how real and easy these are to create. The problem isn't the tech itself, but how it's being misused to abuse people. Our laws need to catch up."
NDTV
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
New Zealand MP Exposes Deepfake Threat By Displaying AI-Generated Nude Image Of Herself In Parliament
New Zealand MP Laura McClure bravely took a stand against the growing threat of deepfake technology in a shocking display last month, holding up a manipulated, naked image of herself on the floor of Parliament. The image, which McClure revealed had taken less than five minutes to create online, was censored for broadcast purposes but served as a powerful illustration of the potential dangers posed by deepfakes. "This image is a naked image of me, but it's not real," she told the House on Wednesday (May 14). Discussing the dangers of deepfakes, she added, "For the victims, it is degrading, and it is devastating. It gave me the creeps having to stand in Parliament and hold up the photo of myself, even knowing that it's not actually me." Sharing the image on her own Instagram account, she wrote, "Today in Parliament, I showed an AI-generated nude deepfake of myself to show how real - and easy - these are to create. The problem isn't the tech itself, but how it's being misused to abuse people. Our laws need to catch up." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Laura McClure MP (@lauramcclure) MP Laura McClure described the moment as "absolutely terrifying" in an interview with Sky News, noting that despite knowing the image was fake, its realism was disturbing. "I felt like it needed to be done; it needed to be shown how important this is and how easy it is to do, and also how much it can look like yourself," she said. Ms. McClure wants to amend current legislation that makes it illegal to share nude photographs without consent to include deepfakes. "I believe they are just as harmful, if not more, than the real thing because people can put you into all kinds of depraved videos, for example," she said. She says the problem isn't the technology, but rather its misuse.
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Govt open to further changes to crack down on AI deepfake porn
The Government is open to exploring ways it can further crack down on the creation and distribution of non-consensual AI generated, deepfake porn. It comes after Act MP Laura McClure addressed the House last month, warning of the increased prevalence of explicit deepfake content, using an AI nude photo
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Female MP leaves Parliament speechless by holding up nude image of 'herself' and delivering a 'terrifying' message
A New Zealand MP has stunned colleagues by showing a nude portrait of herself in parliament. Laura McClure created headlines when she held up an AI-generated image during general debate last month, as she described how quick it took to create. 'This image is a naked image of me, but it is not real. This image is what we call a 'deepfake',' she told parliament. 'It took me less than five minutes to make a series of deepfakes of myself. Scaringly, it was a quick Google search for the technology of what's available. 'When you type in 'deepfake nudify' into the Google search with your filter off, hundreds of sites appear.' Three weeks on, McLure doesn't regret about the stunt and insisted 'it needed to be done'. 'It was absolutely terrifying, personally having to speak in the house, knowing I was going to have to hold up a deepfake,' McClure told Sky News. 'I felt like it needed to be done, it needed to be shown how important this is and how easy it is to do, and also how much it can look like yourself.' McLure hopes to overhaul NZ legislation to make it illegal to share deepfakes, as well as nude photographs, without consent of parties involved. She said the problem was the abuse of AI technology, not the new technology itself. Targeting AI itself 'would be a little bit like Whac-A-Mole', McLure said. 'You'd take on site down and another one would pop up.' She said deepfake pornography, however, was a huge concern among Kiwi youth. 'Here in New Zealand a 13-year-old, a young 13-year-old, just a baby, attempted suicide on school grounds after she was deepfaked, so it's not just a bit of fun,' she said. 'It's not a joke. It's actually really harmful.' McLure was prompted to speak out after concerned parents and education professionals raised the worrying issue. 'The rise in sexually explicit material and deepfakes has become a huge issue,' she said. 'As our party's education spokesperson, not only do I hear the concerns of parents, but I hear the concerns of teachers and principals, where this trend is increasing at an alarming rate.' McLure warned the issue was not specific to NZ. 'I think it's becoming a massive issue here in New Zealand; I'm sure it's showing up in schools across Australia … the technology is readily available,' she said. In February, police launched an investigation in the circulation of AI-generated images of female students at a Melbourne school. It was thought that 60 students at Gladstone Park Secondary College had been impacted. A 16-year-old boy was arrested and interviewed at the time, but was later released without charge. The investigation remains open but no further arrests have been made. Another Victorian school had a found itself at the centre of an AI nude scandal. At least 50 students in years 9 to 12 from Bacchus Marsh Grammar featured in AI-generated nude images shared online. One boy, 17, was cautioned by police before authorities closed their investigation. The state's Department of Education expects schools to report incidents to police if students are involved. Last month NRLW star Jaime Chapman lashed out online after being targeted in a deepfake photo attack, revealing it's not the first time someone has used AI to produce a doctored photograph of her. The 23-year-old said the deepfakes had a 'scary' and 'damaging' effect on her. 'Have a good day to everyone except those who make fake ai photos of other people,' she wrote. 'AI is scary these days. Next time think of how damaging this can be to someone and their loved ones. This has happened a few times now and it needs to stop.' NRL presenter Tiffany Salmond hit out at criminals online later last month after being targeted in a deepfake photo attack. The 27-year-old New Zealand-based sports reporter said a photo she had posted to Instagram had been doctored and then shared. 'This morning I posted a photo of myself in a bikini,' Salmond posted on Instagram. 'Within hours a deepfake AI video was reportedly created and circulated. 'It's not the first time this has happened to me, and I know I'm not the only woman in sport this is happening to.' 'You don't make deepfakes of women you overlook. You make them of women you can't control.
News.com.au
03-06-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
‘Terrifying': Moment MP showed deepfake nude pic of herself in parliament
A politician has described the moment she held up a doctored nude image of herself in New Zealand parliament as 'terrifying' despite knowing it wasn't real. Laura McClure has gained global attention for the brave and shocking act last month where she aimed to draw attention to the danger of AI-generated deepfake pornography. Holding up a fake nude of herself, Ms McClure told parliament that it took her less than five minutes to make the image online following a quick Google search. Ms McClure reflected on the moment as 'absolutely terrifying' when appearing on Sky News on Tuesday. She knew it wasn't real but the image looked so much like her. 'I felt like it needed to be done, it needed to be shown how important this is and how easy it is to do, and also how much it can look like yourself,' she said. Ms McClure wants to amend current legislation that makes it illegal to share nude photographs without consent to include deepfakes. 'I believe they are just as harmful, if not more, than the real thing because people can put you into all kinds of depraved videos, for example,' she said. She says the problem isn't the technology, but rather its misuse. Targeting the technology 'would be a little bit like Whac-A-Mole,' she said. 'You'd take one site down and another one would pop up.' The issue of deepfakes is particularly a concern among young people. 'Here in New Zealand a 13-year-old, a young 13-year-old, just a baby, attempted suicide on school grounds after she was deepfaked, so it's not just a bit of fun. It's not a joke. It's actually really harmful,' Ms McClure said. 'Diabolically bad': Deepfakes in Australian schools In February an investigation was launched into the online circulation of 'vulgar' AI-generated pictures of female students at Melbourne's Gladstone Park Secondary College. At the time, it was thought up to 60 students could be affected. A 16-year-old was quickly arrested and interviewed by detectives but released without charge. can reveal no further arrests have been made in the months since and the investigation remains open. Last year, AI-generated nude images featuring the faces of at least 50 female students in years 9 to 12 from Bacchus Marsh Grammar were circulated online. A 17-year-old boy was cautioned by police and the investigation was closed. The Victorian Department of Education states schools are expected to report incidents to police if their students are involved. Cybersafety expert and former police officer Susan McLean spoke to about the issue earlier this year. Ms McLean said creating sexually explicit, AI-generated images is now as easy as uploading a clothed photo of someone and choosing a pose for an app to then spit out a pornographic image, and it will only become more of a problem. Sending real or fake nude images of people under the age of 18 is a crime in Australia, but the harsh reality is, 'there is nothing any person can do to protect themselves from this,' Ms McLean told 'You have to hope that someone doesn't choose you to become a victim; you have to hope that the offender doesn't offend,' she said. She agrees the focus should not be on trying to fight the apps that create the content. Instead, she believes in educating young men on respectful and lawful behaviour. That includes being included in comprehensive cybersafety education delivered by experts in schools and parents taking responsibility to instil it into their children at home. 'You have a responsibility to keep your children safe and you have a responsibility to ensure your child is not inflicting harm on someone else,' Ms McLean said. She says demonising technology and artificial intelligence is not the answer as there are benefits, but 'in the wrong hands it's diabolically bad'. 'The harm to the victims of this crime type is ongoing, it continues, even if the images have been removed, people know they've been caught up in it,' Ms McLean said. 'They will go over this in their mind time and time again.' This particular crime type predominantly affecting female students and teachers can be quite gendered, she said, and it shows 'the extensive lack of respect that females have to put up with in society'. 'Victims of this crime need a lot of support and consistent and ongoing support. And it is never their fault whatsoever,' Ms McLean said. 'We've got to do something to change the mindset of young men who believe this is a good idea to do.' It is not just parents and schools, Ms McLean said all sections of society had a role to play, such as sports clubs calling out inappropriate remarks about women and girls in the locker room. NRL women targeted by disturbing deepfakes Last week, NRL presenter Tiffany Salmond revealed she had been targeted by a deepfake AI attack, with a recent bikini snap doctored into a fake video of her performing explicit acts and uploaded to social media. Salmond said it was both 'surreal' and 'shocking'. 'Felt important to speak up on this. Glad it's opening up a wider conversation,' she said in a video uploaded to Instagram over the weekend. 'I'll be honest, it was shocking. Having the public profile that I do, especially as a woman working in a male-dominated sport, I'm no stranger to having my looks discussed or being the subject of sometimes perverse conversations. 'But this was the first time it went beyond just chatter. 'To actually see photos of myself – ones I had posted confidently on social media – turned into videos where I'm moving and doing explicit actions, was surreal. 'If deepfakes were purely about attraction, we would see women making them about men, but we don't – and it's because in those dynamics, that power imbalance doesn't exist. 'We live in a society where men can't get enough of women's bodies, but it's only when they get a sneaky view that they weren't meant to see.' victim of a deepfake AI attack.
