Technological development continues at a furious pace, and legislation is struggling to keep up. And, like all new technology, deepfakes pose a number of unforeseen legal difficulties.

- We need to bring in people with technical expertise. It is incredibly important that law and technology meet in this context to understand the problem, says Ängla Eklund, who is an IT lawyer and chair of the Institute for Law and the Internet.

"Swedish legislative process is slow"

On January 1, 2018, the new crime introduced illegal privacy infringement which, among other things, targets so-called revenge porn and other violations online. Since just revenge porn would be a conceivable area of ​​use for the app, that law could be applicable, but first it must be tried in court in a deepfake case before deficiencies can be detected.

Once the deficiencies are discovered, the legislative process can begin. But it takes time - and technology is developing rapidly.

- The Swedish legislative process is slow, and that's good, it should be. When you are stressed by a law it does not get good. Since then Sweden is lagging behind in this type of law, many countries have been much faster.

Men's magazine was sentenced for photo montage

Angela Eklund points out that there are previous goals that are relevant in connection with similar apps, for example the so-called "Hustler goal". In 1994, the men's magazine Hustler's editor-in-chief was convicted of slander, after the magazine published photo montage with the faces of Swedish celebrities on the bodies of porn models.

Biggest challenge

What will be the biggest legal challenge with deepfakes?

- The big challenge with deepfakes is with statements, if in a video you get a politician to say things they would not normally do, but which is not directly offensive. For example, it could be a position on migration and immigration that they do not have.

How should you look at this internationally?

- I think this complex area will require cooperation and possible harmonization within the EU on the issues of responsibility raised, concludes Ängla Eklund.