Graham Norton wins court order over Facebook deepfakes in US - The Independent

In December 2025, broadcaster Graham Norton successfully obtained a US court order against Meta to uncover the identity of an anonymous Facebook account holder responsible for a persistent campaign of harassment. The legal action follows months of fabricated stories and manipulated imagery that caused the presenter significant distress and professional concern.

What happened

The account, known as The Westminster Wire, began targeting Norton shortly after its creation in December 2025. The operator consistently published AI-generated images and falsified articles every few hours, falsely depicting Norton and his husband in fabricated scenarios. These posts included distressing claims regarding his health, his husband's wellbeing, and even false reports concerning the death of his 94-year-old mother. Beyond personal attacks, the content featured deepfake imagery that superimposed Norton into offensive situations and falsely attributed racist, xenophobic, and hateful views to him.

Norton testified that he was forced to actively debunk these claims to his friends and family, noting that the content threatened his professional reputation and livelihood. Because the account was operated anonymously, Norton was unable to pursue direct legal action in the High Court in England until the court order compelled Meta to release identifying information. The judicial intervention in the Northern District of California marks a significant step in Norton's efforts to hold the responsible parties accountable for the spread of these malicious, AI-synthesized narratives.