Collien Fernandes: Renew Europe calls for EU action to close loopholes on AI deepfake abuse
Renew Europe today called for stronger European action to address legal and enforcement gaps allowing the misuse of artificial intelligence to generate non-consensual intimate content, following the widely reported case involving German television presenter Collien Fernandes.
Valerie Hayer, Renew Europe president said:
"This case is deeply disturbing and highlights a growing form of digital violence that our laws are not yet equipped to stop. Across the European Union, victims are not equally protected and perpetrators can still exploit gaps between national systems. This must change. We need a european approach to secure same protection for victims and ensure that those responsible are held accountable everywhere in the EU.”
Valérie HayerRenew Europe MEP, France, Renaissance
The appalling allegations, involving the creation and distribution of fake online profiles and AI-generated nude images, have reignited concerns about the rapid spread of “nudification” technologies and deepfake abuse across Europe. The case underlines the urgent need for clearer EU-wide rules to prevent digital sexual violence, protect victims and ensure accountability for perpetrators.
In a digital policy paper adopted last year, adopted last year, Renew Europe warned of the urgent need for clear prohibitions on AI systems that nudify individuals or enable the generation of non-consensual sexualised content, stressing that such practices undermine human dignity, privacy and fundamental rights, particularly for women and minors.
The political group also pointed to persistent loopholes at European level, including fragmented criminal frameworks across Member States, insufficient safeguards on generative AI developers, delays in removing illegal content from online platforms and weak cross-border enforcement mechanisms.
Michael McNamara MEP (Renew Europe, Ireland), European Parliament co-rapporteur on the AI Omnibus, said:
“The case reported in Germany is a stark reminder that digital violence is real violence. AI must never be used to humiliate, exploit or endanger people.
As Parliament prepares to vote on the AI Omnibus this week, closing legal loopholes — including by introducing an explicit ban on nudification applications — is essential to protect victims, provide legal certainty and restore trust in new technologies.”
Michael McnamaraRenew Europe MEP, Ireland
Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová MEP (Renew Europe, Slovakia), said:
“Europe must ensure that innovation goes hand in hand with responsibility. We need clearer obligations on developers of generative AI tools, stronger cross-border cooperation and faster removal of harmful deepfake content. Citizens must know that digital rules are enforceable and that perpetrators cannot hide behind technological complexity.”
Veronika Cifrová OstrihoňováRenew Europe MEP, Slovakia, Progresívne Slovensko
Abir Al-Sahlani MEP (Renew Europe, Sweden), FEMM coordinator, added:
Women are disproportionately targeted by deepfake abuse, which can have devastating psychological, social, and professional consequences. Tackling non-consensual nudifiers is part of the fight against gender-based violence. The EU must ensure victims have rapid remedies and real protection.”
Abir Al-SahlaniRenew Europe MEP, Sweden, Centerpartiet
Renew Europe stressed that the upcoming parliamentary vote on the AI Omnibus is a key opportunity to strengthen safeguards against abusive AI uses while maintaining a framework that supports innovation, simplification and competitiveness for European companies.
The group will continue to push for harmonised EU action, stronger platform accountability and effective enforcement tools to ensure that new technologies serve citizens and uphold democratic values.