Deepfake Porn Scandal: Thousands Protest Digital Sexual Violence in Berlin
Thousands attended a rally in front of Brandenburg Gate to demonstrate against the "virtual rape" of German media personality Collien Fernandes.
Monday, March 23
Thousands of Berliners came out to march against online sexual abuse on Sunday in the wake of a disturbing report in Der Spiegel about German television presenter Collien Fernandes and the abuse she detailed at the hands of her ex-husband, the actor Christian Ulmen.
Police counted 6,700 people at the demo in front of the Brandenburg Gate, which was initiated by the newly-formed alliance Feminist Fight Club. Organisers claimed even more were in attendance, putting the number at 13,000.
"The case of Collien Fernandes and Christian Ulmen shows: We finally need to do something about sexualized violence," organisers wrote in a call to join the action. "Legal protection for victims here in Germany is inadequate. We demand more protection, clear laws, and real consequences – online and offline."
The protest was in solidarity with Fernandes, who in the report alleged that for years, her ex-husband created fake profiles on social media pretending to be her and used them to send deepfake pornographic content to countless people without her knowledge or consent. Fernandes has since initiated a legal case in Spain, where the high-profile couple lived – citing the fact that victims of digital sexual violence in Germany have virtually no recourse in court, as creating deepfake porn isn't a criminal offense here.
The allegations have unleashed a public firestorm and prompted politicians to scramble to enact stronger legislation. Over the weekend, Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) called for a more effective law to protect victims of digital sexual violence and close the legal loophole. "Those who hunt, threaten, or humiliate people online attack their dignity just as they would on the street," Spranger told dpa.
Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) also released a statement, offering a renewed push for a draft law already in the works that would make it easier to remove degrading sexual images from the internet and punish those who release them. The law will be reviewed by the federal government this week.
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