Cara Hunter Reveals How a Deepfake Video Almost Destroyed Her Political Career

Irish politician Cara Hunter has opened up about the shocking deepfake video that nearly ended her political journey. The incident happened in April 2022, just weeks before the Northern Ireland Assembly elections, and became one of the most traumatic moments of her life.

A Deepfake Video That Changed Everything

Hunter was celebrating her grandmother’s 90th birthday in rural Tyrone when she received a Facebook message from a stranger. The man asked if she was the woman in a video circulating on WhatsApp. When she viewed the video, she was horrified.

The clip showed a woman with Hunter’s face in an extremely pornographic scene. The room, the background, and the explicit acts made it clear that this was a malicious deepfake video created to damage her reputation.

As the video spread, Hunter’s phone exploded with hateful messages from strangers. Many of these messages were misogynistic and abusive, reflecting the growing online violence against women.

Understanding Deepfake Technology

At the time, deepfake pornography was still new and poorly understood. Hunter initially wondered if the woman simply looked like her. Later, using reverse image search tools, she found the original video and confirmed her face had been digitally added.

Since 2022, deepfake technology has advanced quickly. Many young women now contact Hunter saying similar videos have ruined their lives. Schools are also reporting increased use of nudification apps among teenagers.

Legal Response to Deepfake Abuse

The UK has introduced laws through the Online Safety Act and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, making it illegal to create, share, or request deepfake intimate images. Northern Ireland is also considering similar legislation.

Despite this, recent police research shows 1 in 4 people still believe creating or sharing sexual deepfakes is harmless, a mindset that deeply concerns Hunter.

Impact on Hunter’s Life and Career

The weeks after the video went public were extremely painful. Unsure how to respond, Hunter turned to her party, the SDLP. They advised her to stay silent, fearing that a public statement would increase attention and harm her election chances.

The police told her no crime had been committed and that they lacked the technical skills to investigate.

During this time, Hunter faced humiliation in public. People avoided her, and one man even approached her asking for sexual acts. Still, she continued her campaign and ended up winning her seat—by just 14 votes, making it the most marginal seat in Northern Ireland.

Becoming a Voice Against Deepfake Intimate Image Abuse

After her victory, Hunter spoke publicly about her experience and became an advocate for stronger laws against deepfake abuse. She understands why many women stay silent—speaking out brings more shame, attention, and online abuse.

Hunter believes that deepfakes can discourage young women from entering politics. Women already face higher levels of harassment, and AI-generated sexual content makes the problem worse.

A Wider Threat: Deepfakes in Politics

Deepfakes are not only used for sexual exploitation. Fake audios of Joe Biden and manipulated videos of Volodymyr Zelenskyy have already shown how AI can threaten democracy. Hunter supports proposals like Denmark’s plan to give every person rights over their own body, face, and voice.

She also wants mandatory labels on all AI-generated videos, so the public can easily recognise manipulated content.

Personal Struggles and Future Uncertainty

Even today, Hunter thinks about the video and wonders who was behind it. Was it motivated by sexism, political hate, sectarianism, or simply malice?

Hunter also lives with a pituitary tumour, discovered the morning she took her Assembly seat. Stress worsens her condition, and her parents urge her to leave politics for her health. But Hunter loves her job and the ability to bring real issues directly to government ministers.

With elections coming in May 2027, she feels anxious:
“Last time, I was a porn star. What’s coming next?”

Still, she remains committed to public service — but admits the future is uncertain.

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Cara Hunter, deepfake video, political career, deepfake abuse, AI pornography, online safety, deepfake legislation, Northern Ireland politics, image-based abuse, women in politics, digital harassment, deepfake technology, cyber abuse, Online Safety Act, intimate image abuse

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