The Legal Light Justin Stack Deepfake and coercive control criminal charges now in court New laws against creating deepfake sexual images and coercive control of partners have led to the first criminal cases rolling into courts around Australia. A 19-year-old man was recently the first person in the country to be charged under a new federal law that makes creating and spreading deepfake pornographic images a crime. The South Australian has been charged with eight counts of creating or altering sexual material of a teenage girl without consent, under the Commonwealth Criminal Code Amendment (Deepfake Sexual Material) Act 2024. It has a maximum penalty of seven years' jail, while sharing such content attracts a maximum of six years in jail. He was also charged with 12 counts of using a carriage service in a harassing or offensive way, a charge that carries a maximum five years' jail. A deepfake is an image or video in which a real person's face or body has been edited using Al technology to create a false sexually explicit depiction of the person. NSW has similar laws covering deepfake images and expanded them in February to include using Al technology to alter audio material, as well as fake video of a "simulated person". New laws surrounding coercive control are also starting to produce results. In February the new NSW criminal offence of coercive control was used for the first time to sentence a man to two years in jail after he was found guilty of domestic abuse, including isolating and stalking a woman. The court heard that over six years the man had been charged 11 times with domestic violence and even harassed his victim by mail from inside jail. Ashleigh Flanagan, a family and criminal lawyer at Stacks Law Firm, said coercive control is a form of domestic abuse that has long flown under the legal radar. "Coercive control is a form of domestic abuse that is often hidden, as it involves repeated patterns of controlling behaviour including stalking, tracking and physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or financial abuse. "This mounts and mounts, robbing the victim of their freedom, autonomy, personality, strength and character." Coercive control became a crime in NSW in July 2024. By September 2025, police had recorded 385 cases, resulting in 18 charges. Ms Flanagan said if a person believes they are a victim of such behaviour, it would be wise to consult a legal expert to see whether what is happening comes under the coercive control law. "It would be important to keep a record of each instance of such behaviour and inform an independent professional to determine the best course of action." 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 Deepfake and coercive control criminal charges now in court New laws against creating deepfake sexual images and coercive control of partners have led to the first criminal cases rolling into courts around Australia . A 19 - year - old man was recently the first person in the country to be charged under a new federal law that makes creating and spreading deepfake pornographic images a crime . The South Australian has been charged with eight counts of creating or altering sexual material of a teenage girl without consent , under the Commonwealth Criminal Code Amendment ( Deepfake Sexual Material ) Act 2024. It has a maximum penalty of seven years ' jail , while sharing such content attracts a maximum of six years in jail . He was also charged with 12 counts of using a carriage service in a harassing or offensive way , a charge that carries a maximum five years ' jail . A deepfake is an image or video in which a real person's face or body has been edited using Al technology to create a false sexually explicit depiction of the person . NSW has similar laws covering deepfake images and expanded them in February to include using Al technology to alter audio material , as well as fake video of a " simulated person " . New laws surrounding coercive control are also starting to produce results . In February the new NSW criminal offence of coercive control was used for the first time to sentence a man to two years in jail after he was found guilty of domestic abuse , including isolating and stalking a woman . The court heard that over six years the man had been charged 11 times with domestic violence and even harassed his victim by mail from inside jail . Ashleigh Flanagan , a family and criminal lawyer at Stacks Law Firm , said coercive control is a form of domestic abuse that has long flown under the legal radar . " Coercive control is a form of domestic abuse that is often hidden , as it involves repeated patterns of controlling behaviour including stalking , tracking and physical , sexual , psychological , emotional or financial abuse . " This mounts and mounts , robbing the victim of their freedom , autonomy , personality , strength and character . " Coercive control became a crime in NSW in July 2024. By September 2025 , police had recorded 385 cases , resulting in 18 charges . Ms Flanagan said if a person believes they are a victim of such behaviour , it would be wise to consult a legal expert to see whether what is happening comes under the coercive control law . " It would be important to keep a record of each instance of such behaviour and inform an independent professional to determine the best course of action . " STACKS LAW FIRM Grant Avery Compensation Specialist No Win , No Fee Conditions apply 02 6592 6592 taree.stacklaw.com.au Partners in life