Deepfakes, Dignity, and Women’s Rights: Regulating AI-Driven Digital Violence
Keywords:
Deepfakes, Digital Violence, Women’s Rights, Privacy, Dignity, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Law, Gender JusticeAbstract
The advent of AI-driven deepfake technology has revolutionized the creation of digital content, yet it has simultaneously unleashed unprecedented threats to privacy, dignity, and gender justice. Deepfakes-media that is artificially generated or altered-are increasingly being weaponized to disseminate non-consensual pornography, perpetrate harassment, and inflict reputational damage, with women disproportionately bearing the brunt of such attacks. This paper critically examines deepfakes within the Indian legal framework, characterizing them as a form of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV). It evaluates the constitutional safeguards enshrined in Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution, alongside the legal remedies available under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Furthermore, the paper analyses comparative approaches adopted across various jurisdictions. It argues that the existing fragmented legal framework is inadequate; consequently, there is an imperative need for a comprehensive, gender-sensitive regulatory framework that encompasses criminalization, platform accountability, consent-based data management, and effective victim relief mechanisms. The study concludes that regulating deepfakes is not merely a technical imperative, but an absolute constitutional and human rights mandate.
References
Panda, B. N., & Sharma, I. (2025). Deepfake technology in India and the world.
Khan, Z. A., & Rizvi, A. (n.d.). Deepfakes: A challenge for women’s security and privacy.
Johar, S. (n.d.). Regulatory approach to deepfake pornography in India.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Information Technology Act, 2000.
Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, 2021.
Indian Penal Code, 1860.
Justice K. S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, (2017) 10 SCC 1.
X Corp. v. Union of India (2025).
United Nations. (1979). Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (Adopted December 18, 1979; entered into force September 3, 1981).
United Nations General Assembly. (1993). Declaration on the elimination of violence against women (Resolution 48/104, December 20, 1993).
Yadav, U. (n.d.). Women’s human rights in India: There exists a wide gulf between theory and practice.
Yadav, U., & Prakash, B. (2024). A socio-legal analysis of the health and well-being of the ageing population. In Intersections of law and computational intelligence in health governance (pp. 142–160). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
Yadav, U. (2023). Contemporary business management through ancient Indian scriptures. Advance and Innovative Research, 131.
Yadav, U., & Kumar, R. (2025, October). Comprehensive analysis of artificial intelligence in the context of the judicial system in India. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 3335, No. 1, p. 030036). AIP Publishing LLC.
Prakash, B., Yadav, U., Kumar, I., Gautam, S., Arora, A., Arora, M., & Sharma, R. (2024). Socio-economic factors of maternal healthcare in India: 15 years of National Health Mission. In Intersections of law and computational intelligence in health governance (pp. 271–289). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
Pasupuleti, S., & Yadav, U. (Eds.). (2026). Safeguarding social justice and human rights in the age of AI. IGI Global.
Singh, A., Yadav, U., Thakur, R., & Prakash, B. (2024). An interdisciplinary narrative on artificial intelligence and human resource management. Library of Progress–Library Science, Information Technology & Computer, 44(3).
Yadav, U., Pitchai, R., Gopal, V., Kumar, K. S., Talukdar, M., & Boopathi, S. (2025). Powers of higher education leadership: Navigating policy and management in academic institutions. In Navigating leadership and policy management in education (pp. 103–136). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
Pasupuleti, S., Yadav, U., & Srinivasa, S. R. (2026). Convergence of social justice, human rights, and artificial intelligence (AI). In Safeguarding social justice and human rights in the age of AI (pp. 1–18). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
Yadav, U., Pargai, D., Saini, R., Ghamande, M. V., & Mohanasundari, M. (2024). Implementing outcome-based education for NBA accreditation in India: College-based education. In Social innovations in education, environment, and healthcare (pp. 41–64). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
Fukui, M., Kuroda, M., Amemiya, K., Maeda, M., Kumar, R., & Yadav, U. (2024). A study on the relationship between Japanese school teacher attitudes toward inquiry-based learning and their creativity. In Transdisciplinary teaching and technological integration for improved learning: Case studies and practical approaches (pp. 22–41). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
Ahmed, S., Singh, A. R., Yadav, U., & Singh, B. (2025). Tele-presence and immersive experience in healthcare: Fostering metaverse and digital twins in medical research. In Metaverse and digital twins: Blockchain and healthcare technology (p. 67).
Yadav, U. (2015). Changing institution of family and marriage in contemporary India. International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research, 9(2), 95–102.
