‘Deepfake’ Crimes and Incidents (402A/24)
Request
For each year between February 2019 and February 2024:
- The number of incidents and crimes recorded by the force that had ‘deepfake’ or ‘deep fake’ mentioned in the notes (please do not combine the number of incidents and crimes).
- The offence descriptions for each of those recorded incidents or crimes
- The outcomes associated with each of the incidents or crimes disclosed
- The associated notes for each of the crimes or incidents, if they can be disclosed within the cost and time limits (I understand there may be a need for the redaction of identifying details).
Response
We can confirm that relevant information is held by West Midlands Police. However, while the majority of the information is attached to this email, I am not required to release all of the information requested. Please find attached our response (402A_Attachment.pdf).
REASONS FOR DECISION
The redacted information is exempt by virtue of the following:
Section 30(1) – Investigations and proceedings
Section 40(2) – Personal information
These exemptions and explanatory notes are shown here:
In line with Section 30 above, I am required to complete a Prejudice Test/Public Interest Test (PIT) on disclosure. Please find this PIT attached (402A_PIT.pdf).
Section 40(2) is an absolute and class-based exemption if to release the information exists would breach the third party’s data protection rights. In this case to release this personal information would not constitute fair processing of the data. As this exemption is class based I am not required to identify the harm in disclosure and in this instance I believe that the right to privacy outweighs any public interest in release.