German TV star accuses husband of spreading deepfake porn images of her

German TV presenter Collien Fernandes publicly accused her ex-husband of spreading AI-generated pornographic deepfakes of her online for nearly a decade, triggering mass protests, a parliamentary debate, and emergency legislation in Germany. What happened Fake social media accounts purporting to be Fernandes distributed the deepfakes and engaged in sexual conversations with men who believed they were interacting with Fernandes herself. These interactions occasionally led to phone calls where someone used an AI-generated voice to impersonate her. Fernandes said the abuse had gone on for years and had caused severe emotional harm, and that her former husband Christian Ulmen had admitted to the conduct. Ulmen denied the claims and said he would pursue legal action against Der Spiegel over its reporting. The story quickly became a major public controversy in Germany, with public demonstrations and renewed debate in the country's federal parliament over how the law treats deepfake pornography. Fernandes also filed a complaint in Spain, which she said offers stronger protection against gender-based violence. Why it happened Germany's criminal justice system has significant legal gaps when it comes to digital abuse. There is no dedicated "deepfake offence" to reflect the particular harm of having one's face mapped onto a stranger's body, meaning that even if Fernandes' allegations are proven, prosecutors face serious difficulties bringing charges. An earlier criminal investigation in Germany had been discontinued due to a lack of leads. The investigation was reopened following the Der Spiegel report. What it means For Fernandes, the alleged abuse represents a severe invasion of privacy and a form of sexualised digital violence that can continue to circulate online long after the original incident. For the general public, the case has sharpened concern that AI tools can be used to intensify harassment against women and other targets. For policymakers, the incident has become a test case for whether laws can keep pace with synthetic-media abuse. Germany’s justice minister has said the government wants to criminalise the creation and distribution of pornographic deepfakes, reflecting the political pressure created by the case. System 🤖 Unknown Developer: Country: Germany; S p ain Sector: Media/entertainment/sports/arts Purpose: Harass ex-wife Technology: Deepfake Issue: Accountability; Au thenticity/integrity; Privacy/surveillance; Safety; Transparency Timeline ⏰ 2015–2024. Alleged period during which deepfake images and impersonation accounts circulate online 2024. Fernandes discusses her experiences with deepfake abuse in ZDF documentary "Deepfake Porn: Digital Abuse" November 2024. Fernandes files a criminal complaint in Germany against unknown individuals Christmas Day 2024. Fernandes claims Ulmen confessed to spreading the material September 2025. Fernandes and Ulmen announce their separation June 2025. German prosecutors discontinue the earlier investigation due to lack of leads March 2026. Fernandes and Ulmen announce their divorce; Der Spiegel publishes front-page exposé March 25, 2026. German parliament debates violence against women; Justice Minister Hubig announces plans for new deepfake legislation March 26, 2026. Over 10,000 gather at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate in solidarity. Fernandes speaks at Hamburg protest wearing a bulletproof vest due to death threats April 2026. Justice Minister Hubig presents a draft law criminalising creation and distribution of non-consensual deepfakes

Date it happened

2024-01-01

Organisation involved

Christian Ulmen

This is a record of what was reported, not a finding that anyone broke the law. If it names your organisation and you believe it is wrong, the corrections process is free and open to everyone.