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Incident 903: Northern Ireland MLA Cara Hunter Allegedly Targeted by Deepfake Pornography Ahead of May 2022 Assembly Election

Description: Sometime in April 2022, reportedly some weeks before the May 5, 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election, Member of the Legislative Assembly Cara Hunter was targeted in a deepfake pornography incident. A fake video depicting her in explicit scenarios is reported to have circulated widely on WhatsApp. Law enforcement have as of yet been unable to trace the origins of the video, according to reports. Additionally, it is alleged that about six months after the initial incident, she was the target of at least 15 more AI-generated deepfakes depicting her likeness in underwear.
Editor Notes: The initial incident with the deepfake video is reported to have occurred sometime in April 2022. 04/15/2022 is an approximation.

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Alleged: Unknown deepfake technology developer developed an AI system deployed by Unknown deepfake creator, which harmed Voters in Northern Ireland , Electoral integrity , East Londonderry constituents , Democracy and Cara Hunter.
Alleged implicated AI system: Unknown deepfake app

Incident Stats

Incident ID
903
Report Count
17
Incident Date
2022-04-15
Editors
Daniel Atherton

Incident Reports

Reports Timeline

Incident Occurrence‘Cruel and malicious’: sexist attacks dampen joy for Stormont’s new female membersAdvocacy group condemns use of fake porn to harass female election candidates in NorthThe world of deep fake porn: How fabricated videos are being used to harm women+2
The real life women whose faces have been stolen by AI: Campaigner faced barrage of abuse when deepfake porn posted on Twitter, politician nearly had election dream scuppered by fake X-rated video and model who saw her face used for an advert on the Tube
+1
East Derry SDLP MLA Cara Hunter requests meeting with UK Minister over deepfakes
+1
Deepfake porn targets politician showing how AI can be weaponized to disrupt elections
+6
UK moves to criminalize non-consensual deepfake porn
‘Cruel and malicious’: sexist attacks dampen joy for Stormont’s new female members

‘Cruel and malicious’: sexist attacks dampen joy for Stormont’s new female members

theguardian.com

Advocacy group condemns use of fake porn to harass female election candidates in North

Advocacy group condemns use of fake porn to harass female election candidates in North

irishtimes.com

The world of deep fake porn: How fabricated videos are being used to harm women

The world of deep fake porn: How fabricated videos are being used to harm women

inews.co.uk

The real life women whose faces have been stolen by AI: Campaigner faced barrage of abuse when deepfake porn posted on Twitter, politician nearly had election dream scuppered by fake X-rated video and model who saw her face used for an advert on the Tube

The real life women whose faces have been stolen by AI: Campaigner faced barrage of abuse when deepfake porn posted on Twitter, politician nearly had election dream scuppered by fake X-rated video and model who saw her face used for an advert on the Tube

dailymail.co.uk

Real women whose faces have been used by AI to create deepfake images

Real women whose faces have been used by AI to create deepfake images

mirror.co.uk

Deepfake porn is political violence

Deepfake porn is political violence

politico.eu

East Derry SDLP MLA Cara Hunter requests meeting with UK Minister over deepfakes

East Derry SDLP MLA Cara Hunter requests meeting with UK Minister over deepfakes

northernirelandworld.com

How a deepfake almost ruined my political career

How a deepfake almost ruined my political career

ted.com

Deepfake porn targets politician showing how AI can be weaponized to disrupt elections

Deepfake porn targets politician showing how AI can be weaponized to disrupt elections

the-decoder.com

Deepfake porn targets politician showing how AI can be weaponized to disrupt elections

Deepfake porn targets politician showing how AI can be weaponized to disrupt elections

the-decoder.com

UK moves to criminalize non-consensual deepfake porn

UK moves to criminalize non-consensual deepfake porn

the-decoder.com

SDLP’s Cara Hunter issues call for urgent action on ‘terrifying’ deepfakes after becoming victim of online abuse

SDLP’s Cara Hunter issues call for urgent action on ‘terrifying’ deepfakes after becoming victim of online abuse

belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Stormont MLA targeted by deepfake video urges legal clampdown

Stormont MLA targeted by deepfake video urges legal clampdown

heraldscotland.com

Reality TV star meets MLA deepfake porn victim in new Channel 4 documentary

Reality TV star meets MLA deepfake porn victim in new Channel 4 documentary

belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Vicky Pattison releases her own 'sex tape' with a twist

Vicky Pattison releases her own 'sex tape' with a twist

metro.co.uk

Deepfakes: Creator of fake video of MLA Cara Hunter has not been found

Deepfakes: Creator of fake video of MLA Cara Hunter has not been found

bbc.com

SDLP MLA Cara Hunter recalls ‘men approaching her in the street’ after deepfake porn ordeal in Channel 4 documentary with Vicky Pattison

SDLP MLA Cara Hunter recalls ‘men approaching her in the street’ after deepfake porn ordeal in Channel 4 documentary with Vicky Pattison

belfasttelegraph.co.uk

‘Cruel and malicious’: sexist attacks dampen joy for Stormont’s new female members
theguardian.com · 2022

In a sign of how sexism and misogyny were so embedded in Northern Ireland, official minutes once recorded Ian Paisley Jr shouting “moo, moo, moo” at a female politician.

The outburst against Monica McWilliams in 1997 was part of a boorish, …

Advocacy group condemns use of fake porn to harass female election candidates in North
irishtimes.com · 2022

Editor's note: This report does not solely focus on the Cara Hunter deepfake incident, but discusses it in a wider context.

The use of online fake porn to harass female election candidates is unique to Northern Ireland amid a wider culture …

The world of deep fake porn: How fabricated videos are being used to harm women
inews.co.uk · 2022

'It was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever experienced. I didn't want to walk home or be alone... essentially, it was about silencing me', says victim Kate Isaacs

When Kate Isaacs first saw the video she was confused. It showed the bodies …

The real life women whose faces have been stolen by AI: Campaigner faced barrage of abuse when deepfake porn posted on Twitter, politician nearly had election dream scuppered by fake X-rated video and model who saw her face used for an advert on the Tube
dailymail.co.uk · 2024

Fury has erupted over deepfake porn images of Taylor Swift that have circulated widely on social media in recent days - but the problem is also traumatising scores of real life women in the UK. 

New AI technology has made it easier for miso…

Real women whose faces have been used by AI to create deepfake images
mirror.co.uk · 2024

Taylor Swift fans were recently left horrified after deepfake pornographic images of the singer were circulated online, prompting a group of US senators to introduce a bill to criminalise the practice of sharing non-consensual artificial in…

Deepfake porn is political violence
politico.eu · 2024

This is an extract from a Politico newsletter. For the full report, please visit the website itself.

DEEPFAKES: WHEN THE PERSONAL IS POLITICAL

--- CARA HUNTER, A NORTHERN IRISH POLITICIAN, WAS ONLY WEEKS away from the country's 2022 legisla…

East Derry SDLP MLA Cara Hunter requests meeting with UK Minister over deepfakes
northernirelandworld.com · 2024

SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter has requested a meeting with the UK's Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle to discuss deepfakes and image based abuse.

Ms Hunter has joined forces with the Not Your Porn campai…

How a deepfake almost ruined my political career
ted.com · 2024

See this report for the video of Cara Hunter's presentation and for its transcript.

A nightmare scenario happened to politician Cara Hunter: just weeks before her election, she became the victim of a deepfake scam that threatened to upend h…

Deepfake porn targets politician showing how AI can be weaponized to disrupt elections
the-decoder.com · 2024

A deepfake pornography attack targeting Northern Irish politician Cara Hunter just weeks before an election shows how AI can be used to disrupt democratic processes.

During a recent TED Talk, Northern Irish politician Cara Hunter shared her…

Deepfake porn targets politician showing how AI can be weaponized to disrupt elections
the-decoder.com · 2024

During a recent TED Talk, Northern Irish politician Cara Hunter shared her experience with a deepfake attack that nearly derailed her campaign. In April 2022, someone created and shared a fake pornographic video of her on WhatsApp. The vide…

UK moves to criminalize non-consensual deepfake porn
the-decoder.com · 2025

This report does not focus entirely on the details of Incident 903, but makes reference to them.

According to Reuters, the British Ministry of Justice wants to close a significant legal gap. While sharing intimate photos or videos without c…

SDLP’s Cara Hunter issues call for urgent action on ‘terrifying’ deepfakes after becoming victim of online abuse
belfasttelegraph.co.uk · 2025

An SDLP MLA who has experienced online harassment is advocating for a comprehensive image-based abuse law to protect women and girls.

Cara Hunter has been the victim of sexual harassment, something she believes was used as a "chauvinistic d…

Stormont MLA targeted by deepfake video urges legal clampdown
heraldscotland.com · 2025

A Northern Ireland MLA who feared a deepfake video would ruin her political career has urged action to clamp down on online abuse.

Cara Hunter was targeted in April 2022 when a fake video was created to look as if she was taking part in por…

Reality TV star meets MLA deepfake porn victim in new Channel 4 documentary
belfasttelegraph.co.uk · 2025

Reality TV star Vicky Pattison has met an SDLP MLA who fell victim to a deepfake porn image as part of a new Channel 4 documentary which will see the queen of the jungle release her own AI-generated sex tape on social media.

The programme, …

Vicky Pattison releases her own 'sex tape' with a twist
metro.co.uk · 2025

Editor's note: This report about Vicky Pattison's deepfake video briefly mentions the details of Incident 903, so it is being included as part of this incident ID. Pattison's deepfake production, which has been made to raise awareness about…

Deepfakes: Creator of fake video of MLA Cara Hunter has not been found
bbc.com · 2025

A Stormont politician has said the person who created a false pornographic video of her has yet to be found.

Cara Hunter of the Social Democratic and Labour Party was targeted in a deepfake video three years ago, when her face was digitally…

SDLP MLA Cara Hunter recalls ‘men approaching her in the street’ after deepfake porn ordeal in Channel 4 documentary with Vicky Pattison
belfasttelegraph.co.uk · 2025

SDLP MLA Cara Hunter has recalled being asked for a sexual act by a man in the street after a deepfake video of her was circulated as part of a new Channel 4 documentary which saw former reality TV star Vicky Pattison release her own AI-gen…

Variants

A "variant" is an incident that shares the same causative factors, produces similar harms, and involves the same intelligent systems as a known AI incident. Rather than index variants as entirely separate incidents, we list variations of incidents under the first similar incident submitted to the database. Unlike other submission types to the incident database, variants are not required to have reporting in evidence external to the Incident Database. Learn more from the research paper.

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