Almost 150 European politicians, including 50 MEPs, targeted with AI-generated deepfake pornography
Almost 150 European politicians have been targeted with AI-generated deepfake pornography, 50 of whom are MEPs, according to a report. Research by the think tank Agora Digital Transformation found that the 50 MEPs had been targeted by platforms able to digitally strip anyone whose picture is uploaded; 46 of them are women. The Green party then started an open letter, endorsed by 119 MEPs. It asks the European Commission and member states to enforce a ban on 'nudifier' apps from 2 December 2026.
What the AI did
AI tools were used to make fake pornographic images of almost 150 European politicians. The 50 members of the European Parliament among them were targeted by platforms that digitally strip anyone whose picture is uploaded. It has not been reported which apps were used or who uploaded the photos.
First reported October 5, 2026 · Added to the register October 8, 2026 · 1 source
- European politicians targeted
- Almost 150
- Affected
- Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), mostly women
- When it happened
- Not stated in the sources
- First reported
- October 5, 2026
What this means for you
Could this affect you?
Women politicians are far more likely to be targeted than men, at one in 14 against one in 500. Victims often do not know they have been targeted until the images have spread.
What to check
- Monitor for sexualised deepfakes of the people you represent.
- Set up procedures for reporting and taking down fake sexual images.
- Prepare for national enforcement of the EU ban on nudifier apps from 2 December 2026.
Areas of your AI programme this touches
Every fact and its source (5)
- Women among targeted MEPs46“Of these, 46 are women.”[1]
- Research sourceAgora Digital Transformation (ADT)“Research by the think tank Agora Digital Transformation (ADT), published on Monday (5 October)”[1]
- EU nudifier app ban start2 December 2026“ban on ‘nudifier’ apps from 2 December 2026”[1]
- Victimisation odds1 in 14 for women vs 1 in 500 for male politicians“one in 14 for women, against one in 500 for male politicians”[1]
- Open letter endorsements119 MEPs“endorsed by 119 MEPs from the Socialists and Democrats”[1]
Sources
- Women MEPs targeted by AI 'nudifier' apps push EU leaders to enforce December ban – EUobservereuobserver.com · October 5, 2026
How this record is classified. Severity M (3/5): harm to individuals, or a policy breach with limited reach. OECD level: incident, an event in which an AI system led to actual harm. Evidence: Reported, meaning press reporting only.
The facts in At a glance and in Every fact and its source are quoted from the sources listed. The summary, What the AI did and What this means for you are written from those sources and checked against them automatically before publication. Records reflect what has been disclosed, not everything that has happened. Incidents are found through news feeds and the GDELT Project.
