Stefanie Yuen Thio spoke about her personal experience of being a victim of deepfake with CNA. In an article that put the focus on the rise of digital sexual violence against women, Stefanie was featured in her capacity as Joint Managing Partner of TSMP Law Corporation and chairperson of SG Her Empowerment (SHE).

The piece drew on her October LinkedIn post describing the shock, confusion and deep sense of violation she felt upon discovering AI-generated sexualised images of herself circulating on TikTok, using her story to humanise what can otherwise seem like an abstract, technology-driven harm.

Beyond sharing her own experience, Stefanie’s contribution underscored why regaining control is central to survivors’ recovery. She spoke about the immediate, practical steps she took – from reporting the content to the platform to enlisting colleagues and friends to help monitor takedowns – and how speaking out publicly helped other women feel less alone. Her voice, alongside psychologists and victim-support organisations quoted in the article, highlighted that while deepfake images may be “fake”, the psychological impact, reputational damage and erosion of trust are painfully real.

The article also framed deepfakes as a systemic problem that demands a coordinated legal, corporate and societal response. In the context of Singapore’s newly passed Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Bill and the creation of the Online Safety Commission, the article stressed the need for stronger, faster mechanisms to remove harmful content and hold perpetrators accountable.

At the same time, the article reported calls from SHE, AWARE and EveryChild.SG for early education – particularly for boys – on consent, respect and digital responsibility, so that prevention keeps pace with technology.