The Legal Light Justin Stack Court fines deepfake creator $343,500 in legal first A man who created deepfake pornographic images of several prominent Australian women and posted them to a website has been fined $343,500 by the Federal Court in a legal first. The civil judgment by Justice Erin Longbottom found the man violated section 75 of the Online Safety Act 2021 on 14 occasions in 2023 by posting fake nude images of six women without their permission. Stacks Law Firm lawyer Anneka Frayne said it was the first penalty of its kind in Australia. It is hoped the significant fine will deter others from creating fake pornographic images of people to post on the internet. "A deepfake image or video is when a person takes an image of a real person from the internet and using new technology, creates a fake image of that person, often nude or engaging in a sex act," Ms Frayne said. "Sadly, it is a growing trend. Police are investigating several school age children creating deepfake images of fellow students and circulating them among friends. "Deepfake videos are also being used to depict political or prominent people saying something they did not say, and with the rapid growth of Al these are increasingly realistic. Identity theft, extortion, ridicule and harassment using deepfake technology should also be pursued, just as deepfake porn image makers are being brought to court." "Until now courts could only make civil judgments like this one, but both federal and state parliaments are bringing in laws to make creating and spreading deepfake images a criminal offence," Ms Frayne said. The Commonwealth Criminal Code Amendment (Deepfake Sexual Material) Act 2024 enacted last September has a maximum penalty of seven years jail. The NSW government has introduced similar legislation specifically against deepfake images, with a penalty of three years jail. The civil case was brought by eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant. The court suppressed the names of the female victims, but one told the court she was horrified and felt violated and vulnerable. The offender said it was a "fun" hobby. The Commissioner said the number of deepfake images on the internet increased 550 per cent between 2019 and 2025, with 99 per cent of them being pornographic. The victims are nearly always female. Australians whose images have been altered and posted online can ask the eSafety Commissioner for help to have them removed. Ms Frayne said victims of online abuse can also seek legal assistance to submit a request directly to Google or social media service to have them removed, and possibly take legal action against the person who posted the fake images. STACKS LAW FIRM Grant Avery Compensation Specialist No Win, No Fee Conditions apply 02 6592 6592 taree.stacklaw.com.au Partners in life The Legal Light Justin Stack Court fines deepfake creator $ 343,500 in legal first A man who created deepfake pornographic images of several prominent Australian women and posted them to a website has been fined $ 343,500 by the Federal Court in a legal first . The civil judgment by Justice Erin Longbottom found the man violated section 75 of the Online Safety Act 2021 on 14 occasions in 2023 by posting fake nude images of six women without their permission . Stacks Law Firm lawyer Anneka Frayne said it was the first penalty of its kind in Australia . It is hoped the significant fine will deter others from creating fake pornographic images of people to post on the internet . " A deepfake image or video is when a person takes an image of a real person from the internet and using new technology , creates a fake image of that person , often nude or engaging in a sex act , " Ms Frayne said . " Sadly , it is a growing trend . Police are investigating several school age children creating deepfake images of fellow students and circulating them among friends . " Deepfake videos are also being used to depict political or prominent people saying something they did not say , and with the rapid growth of Al these are increasingly realistic . Identity theft , extortion , ridicule and harassment using deepfake technology should also be pursued , just as deepfake porn image makers are being brought to court . " " Until now courts could only make civil judgments like this one , but both federal and state parliaments are bringing in laws to make creating and spreading deepfake images a criminal offence , " Ms Frayne said . The Commonwealth Criminal Code Amendment ( Deepfake Sexual Material ) Act 2024 enacted last September has a maximum penalty of seven years jail . The NSW government has introduced similar legislation specifically against deepfake images , with a penalty of three years jail . The civil case was brought by eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant . The court suppressed the names of the female victims , but one told the court she was horrified and felt violated and vulnerable . The offender said it was a " fun " hobby . The Commissioner said the number of deepfake images on the internet increased 550 per cent between 2019 and 2025 , with 99 per cent of them being pornographic . The victims are nearly always female . Australians whose images have been altered and posted online can ask the eSafety Commissioner for help to have them removed . Ms Frayne said victims of online abuse can also seek legal assistance to submit a request directly to Google or social media service to have them removed , and possibly take legal action against the person who posted the fake images . STACKS LAW FIRM Grant Avery Compensation Specialist No Win , No Fee Conditions apply 02 6592 6592 taree.stacklaw.com.au Partners in life