Deepfakes And The Law: Are Existing Legal Frameworks Sufficient To Combat Digital Deception?
- IJLLR Journal
- 1 hour ago
- 1 min read
Shubhi Mishra, B.A. LL.B.,Faculty of Law, United University, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India
ABSTRACT:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly transformed the creation and dissemination of digital content. One of the most remarkable developments in this field is the emergence of deepfakes, which are highly realistic but artificially generated or manipulated audio, video, and image content created through machine-learning techniques. While deepfake technology offers legitimate applications in education, entertainment, accessibility, and scientific research, its misuse has generated profound legal and ethical concerns. Deepfakes have increasingly been employed to spread misinformation, manipulate public opinion, facilitate fraud, damage reputations, and create non-consensual explicit content. Such practices threaten privacy, dignity, electoral integrity, and public trust in digital information.
Existing legal frameworks relating to cybercrime, privacy, defamation, obscenity, and intellectual property provide certain remedies against deepfake-related harms. However, these responses remain fragmented and reactive, failing to comprehensively address the unique characteristics of AI- generated digital deception. Challenges relating to attribution, cross-border dissemination, evidentiary requirements, and the absence of a precise legal definition of deepfakes further expose regulatory inadequacies.
This article critically examines whether existing legal frameworks are sufficient to combat digital deception caused by deepfakes. It argues that although contemporary laws offer partial protection, they are inadequate to address the complex challenges created by synthetic media. The article further contends that deepfakes should be viewed not merely as cyber offences but as threats to informational integrity and digital trust. It advocates the adoption of a balanced and technology-specific regulatory framework that ensures accountability while preserving innovation and freedom of expression.
Keywords: Deepfakes, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Deception, Cyber Law, Privacy, Misinformation, Regulation, Informational Integrity.
