Deepfake Bill passes first reading, now it’s time for Kiwis to have their say

“This Bill only exists because brave young people and their families were willing to speak up about the devastating harm malicious deepfakes are causing,” says ACT MP Laura McClure, following the unanimous first reading passage of her Deepfake Digital Harm and Exploitation Bill today.

The Bill will now head to Select Committee, where New Zealanders will have the opportunity to make public submissions.

“Hearing directly from victims is what motivated me to draft this legislation. Parents also told me about the humiliation, fear, and lasting emotional harm their children experienced after sexually explicit deepfakes were created and shared without consent. No family should have to go through that.

“I’m proud Parliament has come together unanimously to say this kind of abuse has no place in New Zealand.

“This technology is evolving incredibly quickly, and right now the law has not kept pace. People are being targeted, violated, and publicly humiliated using AI-generated content that can be produced in seconds. Victims deserve clear protections, and offenders deserve clear consequences.

“I also want to acknowledge Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke and Te Pāti Māori for their early and constructive support for this Bill. Protecting people from digital exploitation should never be a partisan issue.

“Passing the first reading is an important milestone, but the real work starts now. The Select Committee process gives New Zealanders the chance to shape this legislation and ensure we get it right.

“If you’ve experienced harm from deepfakes, work in technology or online safety, or simply care about protecting people from emerging forms of abuse, I strongly encourage you to make a submission.

“We need practical, workable laws that target harmful behaviour while keeping pace with rapidly changing technology. The best way to achieve that is by hearing directly from the people affected.

“This is a new frontier for our justice system, and Parliament needs to listen carefully to the experiences of everyday New Zealanders. Their voices will help ensure this law is robust, effective, and delivers the protections victims deserve.”

Details on how to make a submission to the Select Committee will be available on the New Zealand Parliament website in the coming days.