Thread by @EllyArrow

#Deepfakes are a fundamental threat to democracy, especially as it pertains to women. If you want to be safe from finding your face manipulated onto violent #pornography you cannot have it anywhere online. This threatens womens participation in public life

There has always been violently sexualized ridicule of women in public life, but for the longest time it was handdrawn. Now with sufficient footage you can manipulate any woman's face onto that of a woman in porn - take personal revenge on an ex or humiliate a female politician.

Feminists have warned society about the impact of porn and its ripple effects on women in and out of the industry for decades, but we weren't heard. Because it was physically primarily happening to a woman in the industry and when reenacted on one outside excuses were made.

If porn doesnt turn every single consumer into a raging rapist then it can't inspire violence the argument goes. As a woman who was locked in a room & had porn reenacted on me against my will, I know that it absolutely inspires violence. It helps the already violent be even worse

But now he doesn't even have to be in the same room with her to violate her. We've known for some time revenge porn is psychological violence that can make women and girls suicidal. Imagine now that any woman any misogynist despises he can watch being raped any way he likes.

Think I'm being alarmist? I hope like hell I'm wrong and this technology will not be used this way to a massive extent. But I fear it will. And I fear that there is only so much we can do with legislation considering the anonymity of the internet. We have to be prepared.

It is incredibly unfair, but I would recommend to every woman and girl out there to take any pictures or videos of your face off the internet. We shouldn't have to protect ourselves, men and boys should behave like decent human beings, but we all live in fear of those who don't.

If you're a woman in public life & have any power at all - get your lawyers ready. Sue the hell out of anyone who dares to do this. Set up funds for women who cannot afford to sue to have it removed and someone held accountable. We have to make the perpetrators fear consequences.

PS: The woman in the video whose body is used for it didn't consent to the deep faking either. Possibly she didn't consent to the making of the original porn video either. Abusive structures exist throughout the porn industry & women in it deserve attention to their human rights.

This is not just about the woman who could be your mom, your sister, your friend or favourite movie star. If the woman in a video is crying & appears to be in pain, chances are she IS. Many ex porn performers even well earning ones have told us this - action is long overdue.