FOI 19/26 Deepfake Images
Date: 02/02/26
Enquiry Reference: 19-26
I write in connection with regards to your Freedom of Information request. Below is your request and our response.
Could you tell me how many reports / cases / people the force area has dealt with since June 2025 regarding the creation of, or requesting the creation of, purported intimate images of an adult, also known as explicit "deepfakes", under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025? If you could break this information down by stage and outcome, ie how many incidents were reported, how many people were questioned, cautioned, arrested, charged etc. And also if the information exists at this early stage in the law, how many charges resulted in a guilty verdict.
Having made enquiries within the Force our answer on this occasion is no information held as there is not a specific crime type for deepfakes. However from the 6th February there will be a recorded crime type so going forward we will be able to answer this.
The Cleveland Police response to your request is unique and it should be noted that Police Forces do not use generic systems or identical procedures to capture and record data therefore responses from Cleveland Police should not be used as a comparison with any other force response you receive.
If you are not satisfied with this response or any actions taken in dealing with your request, you have the right to request an independent internal review of your case under our review procedure. The Freedom of Information Code of Practice (see below link) states that a request for internal review should be made within 20 working days of the date on this response or 40 working days if extenuating circumstances to account for the delay can be evidenced. Public authorities are not obliged to accept internal reviews after this date.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-code-of-practice
Yours sincerely
Information Rights Decision Maker