Thames Valley Police arrested a 36-year-old man from Reading on December 4, 2025, on suspicion of distributing intimate images with intent to cause alarm, distress, and humiliation. The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into deepfake pornographic videos that include former Conservative Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries. The investigation is also looking into similar AI-generated images of three other female politicians in Westminster and several celebrities circulating on social media.
Dorries, now a senior member of Nigel Farage's Reform UK and a columnist for the Daily Mail, described the incident as deeply distressing. She stated that she was informed by police that a man had created deepfake porn videos featuring her, along with three other high-profile women and several TV presenters. Devices seized from the arrested man reportedly contained thousands of videos and images. "Due to the technology used, it's almost impossible to tell what is real and what isn't. The thought that members of my family, friends and colleagues could have seen them was mortifying," Dorries said.
The Mail on Sunday reported that the videos are described as "disturbingly realistic." The arrest comes amid growing concerns about artificial intelligence technologies, such as Elon Musk's Grok, being used to generate false images for blackmail or to damage individuals' reputations.
The arrested man was interviewed by detectives and subsequently released under investigation. The offense being investigated falls under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, specifically concerning the sharing of intimate images with intent to cause harm. The Online Safety Act, introduced in 2021 when Dorries served as culture secretary, amended the Sexual Offences Act to include the use of AI-generated intimate images.
This case follows similar concerns raised by Labour MP Jess Asato, who has initiated legal action against xAI, the platform behind Grok. Asato alleges that the chatbot created fake images of her and AI videos that appeared to depict her in compromising situations. Her legal claim asserts that xAI breached data protection laws and misused her private information.
Earlier this year, legislation was enacted to ban AI tools capable of creating non-consensual nude imagery, often referred to as 'nudification' apps. These laws were part of broader government efforts to enhance protections for women. Predators have also reportedly used AI apps to create non-consensual nude images of children from family photos shared on social media.
Deepfake pornography involves manipulating existing photos or videos to create graphic content, often by using AI to superimpose faces onto pornographic material or to digitally remove clothing. The Mail on Sunday noted that while ministers initially planned to ban specific 'nudification' apps, changes to the Crime and Policing Bill and strengthened provisions in the Online Safety Act now prohibit any AI tool with such capabilities. In response to growing concerns, X, formerly Twitter, stated earlier this year that it would block users from creating images of real people undressed using Grok in countries where such content is illegal.