It is a story that is gripping Germany and has led to one of its best known TV stars tearfully telling thousands of protesters from a stage in Hamburg how she had to wear a bulletproof vest, due to death threats.
A week ago, Collien Fernandes, 44, accused her ex-husband of spreading pornographic deepfakes of her online, in bombshell allegations published by German news magazine Der Spiegel.
Her claims have triggered demonstrations, promises to tighten the law, and criticism that Chancellor Friedrich Merz has bungled his response. Fernandes’ ex-husband, Christian Ulmen, denies the allegations and has not been charged. He is also taking legal action against the magazine that broke the story.
His high-profile media lawyers, Christian Schertz and Simon Bergmann, have told the BBC that Ulmen has never produced and/or distributed deepfake videos of Ms Fernandes or any other individuals. Any such claims are false. They argue that the situation between Fernandes and Ulmen is unrelated to the ongoing German debate surrounding legal loopholes in criminal law over deepfake pornography.
The duo was once considered a prominent celebrity couple, involved in various TV and media projects together. This prominence explains why the case has captivated Germany, but it also highlights a broader discontent with the legal landscape for victims of digital harassment.
A collective of 250 women from politics and culture has put forward demands for stricter laws, including the criminalization of producing and distributing non-consensual sexualized deepfakes, which has gained support from various figures, including Labour minister Bärbel Bas.
Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig has announced plans to make the creation and distribution of such deepfake pornography an explicit offense, punishable by up to two years in prison, an essential step as current German laws only address the distribution aspect if it violates an individual's image rights.
The scandal has led to widespread protests in support of Fernandes, with significant public gatherings in cities like Berlin, where demonstrators held placards declaring, This is abuse not tech.
Despite Ulmen's denial of involvement and a previous investigation being shut down, Fernandes has emphasized the need for more robust legal protection for women experiencing online abuse. She has taken her complaints to Spain, which is perceived to have stronger protections for gender-based violence compared to Germany, which she has described as a paradise for perpetrators.
In her powerful speech during a rally, Fernandes expressed the severity of the threats she faces, stating, I'm standing here with a bulletproof vest under police protection… because men want to kill me. This incident has not only put a spotlight on her personal ordeal but has mobilized a discourse around the urgent need for legal reform to combat digital abuse effectively.
A week ago, Collien Fernandes, 44, accused her ex-husband of spreading pornographic deepfakes of her online, in bombshell allegations published by German news magazine Der Spiegel.
Her claims have triggered demonstrations, promises to tighten the law, and criticism that Chancellor Friedrich Merz has bungled his response. Fernandes’ ex-husband, Christian Ulmen, denies the allegations and has not been charged. He is also taking legal action against the magazine that broke the story.
His high-profile media lawyers, Christian Schertz and Simon Bergmann, have told the BBC that Ulmen has never produced and/or distributed deepfake videos of Ms Fernandes or any other individuals. Any such claims are false. They argue that the situation between Fernandes and Ulmen is unrelated to the ongoing German debate surrounding legal loopholes in criminal law over deepfake pornography.
The duo was once considered a prominent celebrity couple, involved in various TV and media projects together. This prominence explains why the case has captivated Germany, but it also highlights a broader discontent with the legal landscape for victims of digital harassment.
A collective of 250 women from politics and culture has put forward demands for stricter laws, including the criminalization of producing and distributing non-consensual sexualized deepfakes, which has gained support from various figures, including Labour minister Bärbel Bas.
Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig has announced plans to make the creation and distribution of such deepfake pornography an explicit offense, punishable by up to two years in prison, an essential step as current German laws only address the distribution aspect if it violates an individual's image rights.
The scandal has led to widespread protests in support of Fernandes, with significant public gatherings in cities like Berlin, where demonstrators held placards declaring, This is abuse not tech.
Despite Ulmen's denial of involvement and a previous investigation being shut down, Fernandes has emphasized the need for more robust legal protection for women experiencing online abuse. She has taken her complaints to Spain, which is perceived to have stronger protections for gender-based violence compared to Germany, which she has described as a paradise for perpetrators.
In her powerful speech during a rally, Fernandes expressed the severity of the threats she faces, stating, I'm standing here with a bulletproof vest under police protection… because men want to kill me. This incident has not only put a spotlight on her personal ordeal but has mobilized a discourse around the urgent need for legal reform to combat digital abuse effectively.
