Deepfake images of Granada mayor circulate via WhatsApp and Facebook
AI-generated deepfake images depicting Granada mayor Ana Belén Martínez in sexual and degrading scenarios circulated via Facebook and WhatsApp starting 26 November. She filed a police report with the Guardia Civil, reporting emotional distress and suspecting identity impersonation on the Facebook account through which the images were distributed.
What happened
Ana Belén Martínez, mayor of Cúllar in Granada, reported to the Guardia Civil the mass distribution of false images generated by artificial intelligence depicting her in sexual acts and degrading situations.
The images began circulating on 26 November via a Facebook profile belonging to a former local resident whose account had been inactive for over a year, and were also shared through WhatsApp groups. The mayor suspects the Facebook account may have been compromised through identity impersonation.
Reported impact
The mayor stated she suffered an anxiety crisis upon learning of the images and expressed concern about the emotional impact on her minor children and elderly parents.
She described the situation as part of broader violence against women and emphasized that despite the personal damage, her primary concern was ensuring the incident did not go unpunished so that other women suffering similar treatment would know it is not acceptable.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.