Deepfake Abuse Sites Target Over 130 Female European Lawmakers, Study Reveals

An extensive investigation into synthetic media abuse has uncovered systematic targeting of female politicians across Europe, raising grave concerns about digital safety and democratic integrity. Research conducted by Benjamin Shultz for the German digital democracy think tank Agora Digitale Transformation examined more than 5,800 national members of parliament across all 27 European Union member states. The findings reveal that nearly 150 politicians have been listed, depicted, or cataloged on explicit nonconsensual deepfake websites.

The audit analyzed approximately 160 web domains hosting generated sexual content and nonconsensual media. The findings highlight a stark gender disparity: at least 138 female members of parliament from 22 EU countries were identified across these domains, compared to just nine male parliamentarians. Based on these figures, female lawmakers in Europe are 33 times more likely to be targeted by synthetic image networks than their male counterparts.

The research reveals that deepfake platforms do not merely host altered media; many function as directory-style databases. Multiple domains catalog official parliamentary photographs, personal information, and social media handles alongside body-rating sections and direct links to automated digital manipulation tools. targeted parliamentarians—including Dutch lawmakers Suzanne Kröger and Sarah Dobbe—have voiced outrage over the scale of the operations, warning that the practice serves as a deliberate strategy to intimidate public figures and marginalize women in public office.

• Extensive Geographic Reach: At least 138 female lawmakers representing 22 EU member nations were identified across 160 monitored deepfake domains following an audit of 5,800 national parliamentarians.
• Disproportionate Gender Disparity: Statistical analysis confirms female parliamentarians are 33 times more likely to be targeted than male colleagues, with only nine male MPs referenced across the audited databases.
• Concentration Among Senior Officials: Lawmakers from Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and France experienced the highest volume of targeting, with higher-ranking politicians facing disproportionate exposure.
• Commercialized Tool Integration: Monitored platforms operate as structured businesses, featuring profiles linked directly to automated "nudifier" applications that allow users to generate explicit media in three clicks.
• Initial Domain Removals: Direct outreach by researchers and investigative scrutiny forced hosting shifts, leading to the takedown of at least six major abusive domains prior to public report release.

The systematic deployment of nonconsensual synthetic media against public officials represents a structural threat to political participation. Researchers and impacted lawmakers emphasize that these cyber-harassment tactics inflict severe psychological distress and long-term reputational damage. By turning routine political visibility into a vector for digital abuse, these networks generate a chilling effect that threatens to deter women from seeking public office or remaining in civic leadership positions.

From an operational standpoint, the infrastructure supporting synthetic abuse has transitioned from fringe technical forums into accessible commercial enterprises. According to AI policy specialist Henry Ajder, these platforms are structured to operate at scale, monetizing nonconsensual imagery through subscription models, advertising, and user-friendly generation tools. The low technical barrier to entry allows bad actors to produce realistic synthetic media within seconds, overwhelming traditional legal remedies and moderation protocols.

The societal consequences extend well beyond political chambers. The underlying technology powering these abuses is routinely deployed against journalists, private citizens, and secondary school students worldwide. Because deepfake platforms aggregate public images to train and execute automated manipulation, any individual with an online presence remains vulnerable to automated harassment operations.

Since synthetic media tools first gained widespread attention in late 2017, the underlying algorithmic models have advanced rapidly in quality and accessibility. Early deepfake generation required substantial technical expertise and specialized hardware. Contemporary iterations, however, utilize cloud computing and simplified web interfaces, allowing non-technical users to generate highly realistic nonconsensual media with minimal effort.

Previous empirical research highlights the efficacy of targeted domain enforcement. Shultz, who serves as lead researcher at the American Sunlight Project, previously audited US federal lawmakers targeted on similar explicit platforms in 2024. Following aggressive legal challenges, public exposure, and subsequent infrastructure takedowns, depictions of US politicians on monitored explicit domains saw a significant, sustained decline.

“"Deepfake porn is part of a much bigger trend of online hate and intimidation against women and female politicians. We are politicians, we have a platform and speak out, but meanwhile, there are millions of women victims of these criminal acts." — Suzanne Kröger, Member of Parliament, Progressive Netherlands”

Legislative frameworks across major Western economies are beginning to adapt to synthetic abuse, though statutory enforcement remains fragmented. Both the European Union and the United Kingdom are progressing toward comprehensive bans targeting the creation, hosting, and distribution of automated "nudify" applications. In the United States, enforcement measures such as the Take It Down Act have established legal mechanisms that recently enabled law enforcement and civil litigants to shutter high-volume deepfake sites hosting thousands of illicit images.

In the coming months, regulators will face pressure to hold domain registrars, hosting providers, and search engines accountable for indexing nonconsensual media portals. As European authorities prepare to enforce stricter platform governance rules, the focus will center on mandatory reporting mechanisms, rapid takedown timelines, and cross-border law enforcement coordination to dismantle the financial and technical architecture sustaining deepfake networks.