Teacher paid damages after deepfake video falsely alleged racist slur
A West Midlands teacher was subjected to widespread online abuse after a lawyer intentionally shared a deepfake video with manipulated audio falsely alleging she had used racist language while canvassing for Labour. The teacher received damages for defamation and data protection breach, marking a precedent case in the UK for misuse of synthetic media technology during elections.
What happened
Cheryl Bennett, a PE teacher from Wednesbury in the West Midlands, was recorded on a household security camera while canvassing for the Labour party during local elections in May 2024. Shortly after, doctored footage of her appeared online with synthetic subtitles and manipulated audio falsely alleging she had used racist language, including a slur against Pakistani people, towards the homeowner.
The video was shared millions of times on social media by Akhmed Yakoob, a lawyer standing as an independent candidate in the West Midlands mayoral election. Yakoob posted the clip alongside a message encouraging Labour party members to leave the party and also disclosed Bennett's name and workplace.
Reported impact
Bennett said she was forced into hiding and feared the deepfake would ruin her career. She was sent home from work and faced a torrent of online abuse following the video's viral spread.
Index analysis
The solicitor representing Bennett identified the manipulation as a first of its kind case in UK elections, noting that while her voice was used, it had been 'synthetically messed around with' and that the audio volume remained identical at different distances from the camera, indicating artificial manipulation. The case highlights emerging legal issues as video manipulation powered by artificial intelligence becomes more commonplace alongside the proliferation of home security and doorbell cameras.
Governance controls
Bennett filed legal action for defamation and breach of data protection rights and was awarded substantial damages and costs from Yakoob. Yakoob remains under investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority over the incident.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.