Under the proposed law, anyone who creates such an image without consent will be subject to a criminal record and an unlimited fine (the fine amount will be determined by the courts). Offenders could also face imprisonment if the image is distributed more broadly.

The act of creating a deepfake image will constitute an offence, irrespective of the creator's intent to disseminate it, according to the department. The Online Safety Act, enacted last year, has already made it illegal to share deepfake intimate images, a practice increasingly enabled by advancements in artificial intelligence.

The new offence will be introduced as an amendment to the criminal justice bill currently progressing through parliament.

Minister for victims and safeguarding, Laura Farris stated that the creation of deepfake sexual images is "unacceptable irrespective of whether the image is shared".

"It is another example of ways in which certain people seek to degrade and dehumanise others – especially women. And it has the capacity to cause catastrophic consequences if the material is shared more widely. This government will not tolerate it. This new offence sends a crystal clear message that making this material is immoral, often misogynistic, and a crime."

Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, welcomed the government's decision, remarking: "It's welcome that the government has accepted Labour's calls to criminalise the creation of deepfake pornography. Superimposing somebody's image onto sexually explicit photos and videos is a gross violation of their autonomy and privacy, which can cause enormous harm, and it must not be tolerated.

"It's essential that the police and prosecutors are equipped with the training and tools required to rigorously enforce these laws in order to stop perpetrators from acting with impunity."