Gráinne Seoige says sexualised deepfake images left her traumatised

She has been praised for bravely speaking out

Broadcaster Gráinne Seoige has opened up about being traumatised after sexualised deepfake images of her were circulated online.

The images were shared online during her 2024 general election campaign.

She said she was left deeply traumatised by the deepfake images in a new interview with RTÉ's Prime Time.

"It was the most shocking thing that's ever happened to me in my life, and it took me a long time to process it," she shared.

Seoige stressed that companies like X and Meta need to be held accountable, both publicly and legally, for "the harm their systems enable."

She has also called for more severe action from the Government and Gardaí when it comes to deepfake imagery.

She said we need clear criminalisation of AI-generated sexual imagery, as well as real-time powers for Gardaí to act and stop the spread.

Seoige also called for legal duties on platforms once this material is flagged and real penalties when companies fail to do the right thing.

Seoige added, "I’ve written to the Oireachtas Committee on Media, the Ministers for Justice and Media, the Garda Commissioner, Coimisiún na Meán, and reached out directly to Meta and X. I’ve also been working to get cross-party support, especially from women legislators, because let’s be real - this abuse hits women and children the hardest."

Seoige chose not to speak out about the deepfake imagery at the time, but wishes she "called out what had happened to me immediately."

"These perpetrators, because let's remember, this is a crime ... by saying nothing, in some way, I actually protected them.

"I’ve had to deal with the shame and humiliation of this for almost a year and a half. It has been deeply traumatising."

"People who dismiss these things as a 'bit of craic' and something not to be taken too seriously are the people whose bodies will never be used as commodities," the broadcaster stressed.

"These are the people whose bodies will never be abused and violated in this way, and therefore, they never have to understand it."