An Austrian member of the European Parliament shared her disturbing experience of having digitally altered nude images of herself circulated online without consent, highlighting a growing threat facing female politicians across Europe. Lena Schilling of the Green Party revealed last month that deepfake images depicting her undressed were being spread, sparking calls for urgent EU action.

The report from Berlin-based Agora Digitale Transformation (ADT) reveals that one in six female MEPs have been victims of sexualized AI-generated content, underscoring a systemic issue of digital violence against women in European politics.

Deepfake Abuse as a Form of Digital Violence

Schilling described the altered images as a painful violation, particularly because they manipulated footage from one of her first press conferences. She expressed shock and disgust upon discovering the images, emphasizing how they exploited a significant career moment to cause harm and humiliation.

She classified this form of abuse as “digital violence against women,” compounding the existing challenges female politicians face including harassment, sexist abuse, and threats. The ADT report further exposed that women are 33 times more likely than male counterparts to be depicted in deepfake pornography.

Democratic Impact and Urgent Call for Enforcement

Schilling warned that such attacks create a hostile environment that deters women from engaging in politics, posing a threat to democratic participation. She voiced concern over the fear among victims to come forward and the normalization of these violations unless effective measures are implemented.

In response, Schilling and German Green MEP Terry Reintke initiated a letter signed by 119 MEPs urging EU officials to ensure the enforcement of an upcoming ban targeting apps and websites that use technology to digitally undress women. The ban is scheduled to begin across the EU on December 2.

The letter highlights that banning such content without proper enforcement mechanisms is insufficient, pointing out the popularity of so-called “nudifier” apps that facilitate this digital abuse with just one click.

Demanding Accountability and Protecting Women’s Political Participation

Schilling emphasized the need for national authorities to close loopholes that allow these harmful applications to operate and stressed that being digitally stripped without consent must not become normalized. She hopes that her decision to go public will encourage states to hold technology companies accountable and protect women aspiring to political careers from fear and intimidation.

“Every woman who wants to run for office should be able to do so without being afraid of being undressed against her will,” Schilling stated, calling it a basic right essential for the health of democratic societies.