Summary
Summer Murphy, a 19-year-old New Zealand woman, became the victim of the country’s first deepfake prosecution when an offender used photos from her social media accounts, including images from when she was 14 or 15, to create sexually explicit deepfake images. Dozens of these manipulated images were uploaded to a pornography website with her real name and insulting descriptions, and were also sent to her friends and family. The offender pleaded guilty in September 2025 and was sentenced to 24 months of intensive supervision in the North Shore District Court, with the judge ruling the offending constituted sexual offending. Murphy advocates for legislative changes to make it easier for victims to seek justice without needing to prove the offender’s intent.