Collien Fernandes testifies on digital violence and deepfakes before NRW Landtag committee

Parliamentary hearing in Düsseldorf

The Committee for Culture and Media of the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament has scheduled an expert hearing on digital violence and artificial intelligence for Thursday at 15:30. Actress and television presenter Collien Fernandes was invited to Düsseldorf to deliver personal testimony before state lawmakers. The hearing was organized following an initiative by the opposition Social Democratic Party, which warned that the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence tools has magnified the scale of online abuse. Lawmakers called both public figures and media professionals to assess the growing prevalence of deepfakes and targeted internet campaigns. The parliamentary panel plans to evaluate how state policies and regulatory measures can better protect victims of digital offences.

Accusations against Christian Ulmen

Fernandes has publicly brought allegations against her former husband, actor Christian Ulmen, following investigative reporting originally published by Der Spiegel. She accused Ulmen of physical assaults and alleged that he created unauthorized fake profiles under her name to circulate pornographic imagery. The allegations prompted broad public debate over sexualised digital harassment and led to street demonstrations across multiple German cities. In all public statements and ongoing inquiries, the legal presumption of innocence applies to Ulmen. Fernandes emphasized that legislative discussions regarding online violence require direct participation from individuals who have faced abuse firsthand.

I think that it is totally important to talk to those affected and not just about them.

Impact of deepfakes and harassment on women

Speaking to the German Press Agency ahead of her appearance at the state parliament, Fernandes warned that political institutions have long failed to address digital violence with adequate urgency. She stated that harassment on digital platforms results in real emotional and physical distress for targeted victims. Fernandes noted that the proliferation of sexualised deepfakes and coordinated online attacks disproportionately targets women across digital channels. She explained that such hostile behavior directly forces women to limit their online activities or retreat entirely from public discourse on the internet.

We are dealing with an immensely growing problem that has not been taken seriously politically for far too long.

Platform accountability and dropped investigations

The parliamentary committee also called journalist and former ARD foreign correspondent Georgine Kellermann to present expert testimony. Kellermann, who came out publicly as a trans woman in her professional career at over 60 years of age, advocates for the visibility and legal protections of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer people. In a written statement submitted to the committee, Kellermann described enduring severe insults and direct online threats against herself and others. She emphasized that criminal investigations into digital hate speech are frequently closed because law enforcement authorities cannot establish the identities of anonymous perpetrators. Kellermann called for stricter legal accountability for commercial platforms such as Facebook, arguing that tech companies profit financially from hostile and dehumanizing user interactions.

It has long been important to me that Facebook and co. are held accountable. Also because the inhumane tone on their platforms disgusts me. They earn money with every click.