UK criminalises nudification tools and adds a 48-hour takedown duty
New criminal offences and a platform takedown duty on intimate deepfakes are now in force.
Background
Two sets of rules on intimate AI-generated imagery are now in force in the UK. The first took effect in February and the second following the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which received Royal Assent on 29 April.
Three key points
1. Creating intimate deepfakes is a criminal offence. Since 6 February 2026, creating or requesting an intimate deepfake of an adult without their consent is a criminal offence, even if the image is never shared. The offence applies to the act of creation, not only to distribution.
2. Supplying nudification tools is also an offence. The Crime and Policing Act 2026 added an offence of making or supplying tools that generate purported intimate images, reported in force from 29 June. The Act also introduced personal criminal liability for individuals within an organisation who fail to comply with an Ofcom confirmation decision on intimate images.
3. Platforms face a 48-hour takedown duty. User-to-user services must now remove reported intimate image content within 48 hours of a valid request. A regulation-making power in the Act allows the government to extend these duties to AI services not currently regulated under the Online Safety Act.
Why this matters
Publishers and platforms hosting user content need fast, visible reporting and removal processes. The 48-hour clock is a hard deadline, and personal liability for individuals within organisations raises the stakes for those responsible for compliance.
Sources: Osborne Clarke; PHB; Allainews.
