Former Green Party leader Ricarda Lang has herself experienced digital sexualised violence. She told “Der Spiegel” that she’s seen at least one deep‑fake pornographic clip that made it appear as though the footage was of her. Digital abuse has shadowed her political career from the very beginning. For her, a deep‑fake porn feels “worse than any insult – three‑dimensional, personal. Even though I know it’s a fake, it still feels like it’s me”.
In the wake of actress Collien Fernandes’ accusations against comedian Christian Ulmen, Lang outlined ten demands to tackle sexualised violence. Among them is the criminalisation of sexualised deepfakes and tougher action against digital platforms that create or distribute such content. “This is a fundamental question: who is more powerful, our democracy or US tech oligarchs?” she said.
Lang said her decision to come forward was driven by the intensity of the debate. “There was an inner voice that said, ‘Stop it, you want to be taken seriously for your policy areas.'” Yet she feels a responsibility, as a politician, to turn a high‑profile case into a wider political discussion. She noted that it takes a great deal of energy to push the issue aside and to endure a political climate where only those with a thick skin can advance their careers.