16 February 2026

As technology is increasingly used to harm women and girls, No to Violence has described new NSW laws criminalising abuse using AI-generated content as an important step forward.

From 16 February 2026, the Crimes Amendment (Intimate Image and Audio Material) Act 2025 will expand intimate image offences to cover the creation, alteration and distribution of sexually explicit material without consent, including deepfake images and simulated audio, as well as threats to create or share this content. Serious offences will carry penalties of up to three years’ imprisonment.

No to Violence CEO Phillip Ripper said the reforms reflect how abuse is evolving.

“Technology is increasingly being used to extend coercion and control into online spaces,” Mr Ripper said. “Recognising AI-generated sexual abuse as serious harm is critical to protecting women and girls.”

Research shows technology-facilitated abuse is already widespread, with one in four Australian adults self-reporting engagement in at least one form of digital abuse. These behaviours are rarely isolated and are often part of escalating patterns of domestic and family violence.

What the new law covers

The legislation makes it a criminal offence to, without consent:

• create or distribute wholly AI-generated sexual images or audio of a person
• alter or manipulate images or audio to make them sexual or intimate
• create sexual content depicting a simulated person that closely resembles a real, identifiable person
• threaten to create or distribute any of the above material.

These offences apply even where the content is digitally created and no real image or recording exists.

Tara Hunter, Direct of Clinical and Client Services at Full Stop Australia warned that criminalisation alone will not prevent digital abuse or sexual violence. “These laws matter, but they intervene after abuse has already occurred. This won’t close the gap for specialist sexual and other violence support services struggling to meet growing demand.”

Ms Hunter acknowledged the reforms align NSW with other jurisdictions by modernising the law to address emerging forms of digital abuse and sexual violence. “Digital abuse is part of broader patterns of coercive control and sexual violence. If we want to stop it escalating, we need to intervene earlier with the people using it and adequately fund frontline services to respond to increasing demand for support.”

No to Violence is calling on the NSW Government to back the new laws with $224 million over four years, as outlined in its 2026–27 NSW Budget Submission, to implement the NSW Strategy to Respond to the Use of Domestic and Family Violence.

The investment would strengthen early intervention and scale behaviour-change responses for men to prevent abuse before it escalates. Despite more than one million men in NSW having used intimate partner violence, only a small proportion receive specialist support.

“Technology is changing how harm is perpetrated,” Mr Ripper said. “NSW now has an opportunity to match strong laws with the investment needed to prevent violence earlier and stop escalation.”

Support and Help

Please list the Men’s Referral Service with all Domestic, Sexual and Family Violence stories: No to Violence’s Men’s Referral Service provides 24/7 counselling and referrals for men who are concerned about their behaviour: 1300 766 491

If you are experiencing family violence or concerned about your safety, support is available.
In Victoria, Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre provides free, confidential support, safety planning and referrals, 24 hours a day on 1800 015 188 or at www.safesteps.org.au.

1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling service, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 737 732 or via online chat at www.1800respect.org.au.

If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

About No to Violence   

No to Violence is the Australian peak body for organisations and individuals committed to ending men’s use of family violence.  We support specialist men’s family violence services and operate the national Men’s Referral Service, a 24/7 telephone and online counselling and referral service to link men to the support they need, to get on a pathway of change and end their use of family violence.  We undertake research, training and advocacy, and work with governments, employers and business to stop family violence at the source.