Malta needs to move quickly to strengthen its laws against AI-generated deepfakes, with experts warning the technology is increasingly being used to facilitate gender-based violence.The warning came during a roundtable organised by The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, which brought together legal experts, academics, policymakers and civil society representatives to discuss the growing threat posed by deepfake technology.Speakers warned that while Maltese law criminalises the sharing of intimate content without consent, it does not yet adequately address the creation and distribution of AI-generated sexually explicit deepfakes.Legal expert Dr Antonio Ghio said Malta urgently needs to strengthen its legislation, including through the proper transposition of the EU Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, while also considering how other countries are criminalising deepfake abuse.Meanwhile, Judge Lorraine Schembri Orland highlighted European Court of Human Rights case law on the state’s obligation to protect victims of gender-based violence, while disinformation analyst Naja Bentzen warned that generative AI is accelerating online misogyny and targeted abuse against women.Psychology researcher Dr Sophia Nightingale also cautioned that today’s AI tools make it easier than ever for almost anyone to create convincing fake images, videos and audio, with victims often suffering severe psychological and emotional harm.The discussion forms part of The Malta Chamber’s “Together We Empower – A Future Without Violence” initiative, which aims to encourage stronger legislation and a coordinated national response to the growing risks posed by AI-generated deepfakes.What do you make of this call?•