French MP files complaint over AI-altered hijab photo

Sabrina Sebaihi, a Member of Parliament for the Greens (EELV), has filed a criminal complaint with the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office against Julien Odoul, a Member of Parliament for the far-right National Rally (RN).

The complaint follows a social media post by Odoul in which he used artificial intelligence to alter a photograph of a young woman. While the original image depicted the woman wearing a hijab and long clothing, the AI-generated version removed the headscarf and modified her attire. Odoul shared the altered image accompanied by the caption “French freedom.”

Sebaihi argued that the modification was not merely a visual change but a targeted attack on a woman’s appearance and religious identity. She criticized the National Rally, noting that the party has proposed banning the hijab in public spaces through a referendum if they win the upcoming elections. Sebaihi stated that artificial intelligence should not be used as a tool to impose specific views of freedom by controlling women's bodies.