A heated debate erupted on ITV's Loose Women this Tuesday, as veteran panellist Janet Street-Porter delivered a brutally pragmatic verdict on the rising scourge of AI-generated explicit imagery targeting celebrities.
A Clash of Perspectives on Policing Deepfakes
The discussion was prompted by news that the creation of non-consensual intimate images is soon to be made illegal. Janet Street-Porter, 79, returning to the panel alongside Ruth Langsford, 65, Coleen Nolan, 60, and Mariella Frostrup, 63, expressed deep scepticism about enforcement.
"I don't see how they can possibly police it. I just don't think they can," Street-Porter stated bluntly. When Langsford asked if that meant authorities shouldn't try, Street-Porter pointed to strained public finances, questioning whether "hundreds of millions of pounds" should be dedicated to policing something "so universal and fluid."
She clarified, "I'm not condoning it. I'm not saying there is anything okay about it, I'm just being an absolute realist." The journalist further argued that images taken in public places aren't owned by the subject, and drew a controversial parallel to historical art, suggesting creators might defend manipulated images as a form of expression.
Panelists Reject 'Just Get Over It' Stance
Her comments left fellow panellists gasping. A clearly shocked Mariella Frostrup fired back, "That doesn't make it okay. What this is doing is future-proofing the sexual abuse of women and streamlining it so anyone can do it."
Frostrup emphasised the stark legal difference, noting that a traditional media outlet would be "shut down immediately" for publishing such fabricated content. She pinned responsibility on "five or six giant corporations" operating without adequate moral or legal constraints, but praised the new law as a vital symbolic step. "I think it's just great that we are doing something about it," she asserted.
Ruth Langsford confessed her own fears, imagining herself targeted: "They could put me in a skimpy bikini, could make my boobs bigger, have me in a compromising position... I wouldn't be happy about that."
Coleen Nolan invoked the spirit of the suffragettes, arguing, "Just because something doesn't seem possible, it doesn't mean you shouldn't try."
Unmoved, Street-Porter advised victims, "Just get over it and laugh at it!" prompting Frostrup to retort, "People believe them!" The debate ended without resolution, highlighting the complex challenge.
Maya Jama Takes a Stand Against AI Misuse
The Loose Women debate follows closely on the heels of Love Island presenter Maya Jama publicly confronting AI software. Last week, Jama directly ordered X's AI tool, Grok, not to edit her photos after her mother received fake nude images created from her bikini snaps.
Branding the internet "scary and getting worse," Jama posted a withdrawal of consent on the platform. "Hey @grok, I do not authorize you to take, modify, or edit any photo of mine," she wrote. In a follow-up, she revealed the earlier incident where photoshopped nudes of her had circulated, unknown to her until her mother alerted her.
Grok responded textually, acknowledging her request and stating it would decline any such future requests, though it clarified it does not itself generate images.
The episode underscores a growing crisis as AI technology makes the creation of damaging deepfake content accessible to anyone. While new laws aim to combat it, as the Loose Women panel revealed, questions about enforcement, cost, and societal attitude remain fiercely contested.
Loose Women airs weekdays from 12:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
