Deepfakes, $50 intimate photos amid new digital regulations - The Straits Times

Legal expert and SG Her Empowerment (SHE) founder Stefanie Yuen Thio recently shared her personal experience as a target of a deepfake attack. The incident highlights the growing threat of digital abuse and privacy violations, serving as a reminder that individuals are increasingly vulnerable to the malicious manipulation of their identity.

What happened

Ms. Yuen Thio’s face and voice were hijacked and manipulated into a deepfake, which was subsequently broadcast across the internet. This incident occurred amidst a broader landscape of digital abuse and cyberbullying in Singapore, where the normalization of such harms has prompted the introduction of the Online Safety Commission (OSC) in June 2026. This regulatory body aims to mandate that tech giants remove harmful content more effectively.

Beyond her personal ordeal, Ms. Yuen Thio has utilized her platform with SHE to act as a "trusted flagger," a role that facilitates the faster removal of harmful content compared to standard reporting procedures. Her experience underscores the urgent need for robust digital protections, including advancements like age assurance technology and increased bystander intervention, as society grapples with the severe realities of online harms and the commodification of intimate content.