The Daily Aus Germany's celebrity deepfake scandal
Mar 24, 2026
A disturbing German scandal involving sexual AI deepfakes and doctored intimate material. Fake accounts reportedly formed sexual relationships and used AI voices to deceive people. The story touches on alleged domestic abuse, legal battles and shifting media and political responses. It also compares how Germany and Australia are moving to criminalise non-consensual deepfakes.
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Fernandez Found Fake Porn And Imposter Accounts
- Colleen Fernandez discovered fake porn videos and many fake social accounts using her likeness that circulated for years.
- A family member first alerted her to a porn video about five years earlier, and lawyers failed to get all content removed.
Fake Profiles Catfished Industry Colleagues For Years
- Fake profiles impersonated Fernandez and formed sexual relationships with up to 30 men in her professional circle.
- Conversations escalated from normal chat to flirtation, fake nudes, AI-generated voice calls and phone sex over a period of about 10 years.
Use Activism And Reporting To Spur Change
- Fernandez campaigned to change German law and co-produced a documentary to expose deepfakes and their impact.
- She filed a police report in late 2024 despite police uncertainty, saying she felt better for having reported it.