A German actor accused of spreading AI-generated pornography of his TV star ex-wife is now under investigation for alleged domestic violence, prosecutors said Tuesday, the latest twist in the headline-grabbing case.
Claims that Christian Ulmen spread fake explicit images of his former spouse Collien Fernandes sparked a national outcry and brought thousands of protesters demanding better protections for women to the streets.
Prosecutors in the city of Potsdam, outside Berlin, said they had now opened a probe into Ulmen on suspicion of bodily harm.
It relates to several incidents that allegedly took place in Spain in 2022 and 2023, said a spokeswoman for the prosecutors’ office.
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The couple — both actors and TV personalities — previously lived on the Spanish holiday island of Mallorca.
The allegations concerning “digital violence” — the spreading of faked pornographic images — are still being examined, the spokeswoman added.
Ulmen has denied any wrongdoing.
Officials in Potsdam, where the couple used to live, have taken over the investigation from prosecutors in the northern city of Itzehoe.
Fernandes also filed a complaint in Mallorca, but a court there ruled last month that it could not investigate the case as it falls under German jurisdiction.
After the case hit the headlines and sparked protests in several German cities, the government pledged to swiftly introduce new measures to deal with AI-generated deepfakes targeting women.
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