Criminalisation of the Creation or Possession of Sexually Explicit Deepfake Images and Videos

Question:

Mr Christopher de Souza: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs whether Singapore is studying South Korea’s and Britain’s decisions to criminalise the creation or possession of sexually explicit deepfake images and videos, and consider these as a way to strengthen our legal regime against such forms of sexual harassment.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law:

1. Singapore’s laws on sexually explicit deepfake images and videos generally cover the same areas as those being introduced or considered in South Korea and the United Kingdom.

2. Sexually explicit deepfakes generally involve images or recordings that have been altered to depict a victim. Possession of or gaining access to such material, including in the course of producing such material, is already an offence under the Penal Code, punishable with imprisonment for a term of up to two years, or with a fine, or with both.

3. Where the production or possession of sexually explicit deepfakes depicts minors, the Penal Code provides for penalties of up to 10 years’ and five years’ imprisonment respectively, with the possibility of an additional fine or caning.

4. We will be introducing amendments to the Penal Code this year to make clear that our offences apply to sexually explicit deepfakes produced through the use of artificial intelligence.