German protests over deepfake sexual abuse spur legislative action
A German presenter reportedly accused her ex-husband of creating AI-generated sexual images of her and posting them without consent over a decade. The revelation sparked protests and led the government to draft emergency legislation addressing deepfake pornography and digital sexual abuse.
What happened
Presenter and actress Collien Fernandes reportedly accused her ex-husband, fellow presenter Christian Uhlme, of a 'systematic campaign' against her spanning 10 years, involving the creation of fake profiles and AI-generated sexual images of her posted without consent, according to reporting by Der Spiegel in March 2026.
Approximately 10,000 people protested in Berlin on 22 March 2026 against digital sexual abuse, organized by the Feminist Struggle Club, citing structural deficiencies and legal gaps in Germany's legal framework for addressing such harms.
Reported impact
The revelation prompted widespread public outcry, with political figures, artists and supporters calling for immediate legislative action on the issue of deepfake pornography and digital abuse, particularly targeting women.
Index analysis
Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hübig committed on 22 March 2026 to rapid legislative action to address legal gaps, describing a 'rapid increase in digital phenomena with women as the most frequent victims.'
The government drafted legislation for the Bundestag covering 'pornographic deepfakes' created using AI tools, and prohibiting creation and use of images of others without consent from private spaces such as saunas, beaches or changing rooms.
Governance controls
Fernandes initially pursued legal action in Majorca, Spain, citing that 'Spain offers the necessary legal means,' with protesters calling for adoption of a Spanish model of regulation in Germany.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.