Harmful Use Of Deepfake Technology: A Legal And Doctrinal Analysis
- IJLLR Journal
- 2 hours ago
- 1 min read
Sanjana Sharma, Amity University
ABSTRACT
Deepfake technology, powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning, has emerged as one of the most disruptive technological advancements of the digital era. Although it offers legitimate applications in entertainment, education, and accessibility, its misuse has raised serious legal, ethical, and societal concerns. Deepfakes pose more than just misinformation, according to cyberlaw experts. It violates fundamental personality rights such as privacy, reputation, autonomy, and consent. Legal professionals and digital citizens face the difficulty of not just establishing authenticity, but also claiming ownership of their digital identity.
This paper examines the harmful use of deepfake technology with a specific focus on India while incorporating comparative global perspectives. It analyses instances of misuse such as political misinformation, non- consensual intimate imagery, financial fraud, and identity manipulation. Further, it explores judicial responses and emerging case law, highlighting the inadequacy of existing legal frameworks in addressing deepfake-related harms. Finally, it proposes regulatory reforms, including the need for a dedicated legal framework, platform accountability, and technological safeguards. The study concludes that while existing laws provide partial remedies, a comprehensive and forward-looking regulatory approach is essential to mitigate the risks posed by deepfake technology.
