Non-Consensual Sexually Explicit Images and Videos (Offences) Bill [HL]

Viscount Stansgate Excerpts

2nd reading
Friday 13th December 2024 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Stansgate (Lab)]

My Lords, I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak in the gap for a few moments. I commend the noble Baroness, Lady Owen, for championing this cause and bringing this Bill before the House. One of its features, which many Members have mentioned, is the future-proofing that it aims to achieve. Incidentally, in view of what we heard earlier, I think audio is an important aspect of the same debate. I know for myself—we had a demonstration in the last Parliament—how very easy it is to create deepfakes. With the march of technology, this is an area where the law needs to keep up. No one listening to today’s debate will fail to understand the urgency of the need: it is a point of which my noble friend the Minister is only too well aware.

The only point I want to add, in addition to those that have been made, is that this Bill is very good for democracy—including for our democracy. Democracy is under attack and deepfakes undermine trust in democracy, wherever it occurs. You want to know whether what you see is real or not. This Bill addresses a particular area but, in general, we should pass it on its merits and pass it for the good of our democracy.