Fake sexually explicit letters have been sent to the neighbours of a high-profile Hong Kong activist who is living in exile in the UK.
The images, which were delivered to addresses in Maidenhead, Berkshire, made pro-democracy Carmen Lau, 30, look like she was either naked or in underwear.
It is understood the letters, offering her services as a prostitute, are deepfakes sent from Macau, a semi-autonomous Chinese territory near Hong Kong.
Ms Lau sought sanctuary in the UK in 2021 when pro-democracy campaigners began being arrested amid the introduction of a controversial new National Security Law.
Hong Kong authorities then placed her and five other overseas activists on a wanted list in December last year, offering a reward equivalent to £103,000.
Ms Lau said she first heard about the campaign of harassment when she was contacted by her local MP Joshua Reynolds, who said some of his constituents had received the sexually-explicit post.
She told the BBC: ‘The letters had a couple of very unpleasant images, AI-generated or photo-shopped, where they put my face on those images, portraying me as a sex-worker.’
The existence of the letters, which were sent to at least half a dozen neighbours, was first reported by The Guardian.
Pictured: Hong Kong Pro-democracy activist Carmen Lau who is living in the UK
Ms Lau sought sanctuary in the UK in 2021 when pro-democracy campaigners began being arrested amid the introduction of a controversial new National Security Law
According to the newspaper’s report, Ted Hui, a former Hong Kong legislator living in Australia was also targeted.
It comes after Ms Lau’s neighbours received a bounty note in February offering more than £100,000.
The letters accused the former district councillor in Hong Kong of inciting protests and colluding with a foreign power against Beijing.
Ms Lau added: ‘I was quite shocked because last time it wasn’t explicit and so unpleasant to see.’
‘AI technology has enhanced this sort of intimidation, it is beyond just transnational repression, as a woman it is very worrying.’
Ms Lau has been told by police that they will be investigating the deepfake images.
However, she criticised officers for their handling of the original bounty letters sent from China in March.
Ms Lau previously told the Mail: ‘The authorities are intentionally trying to target young activists to stop our work – but we will continue to advocate for democracy.
‘I will eventually have to come back to the UK but I feel less and less safe on the streets.
‘Many of us fled Hong Kong for freedom but even on British soil we can not exercise our freedoms.’
The activist suggested Labour’s less confrontational approach with Beijing in recent months had emboldened the Chinese Communist Party.
She also said the planned Chinese Mega-Embassy in London shows ministers ‘do not care’ for anti-Beijing dissidents living in the UK.