The rise of deepfake technology is unleashing a wave of threats against women across Asia, with fabricated images going viral and causing real-world harm. Recent incidents include deepfake videos of Bollywood stars and manipulated photos of Bangladeshi politicians, underlining the potential for misuse and manipulation. As Pakistan faces upcoming elections on Feb 8, concerns are growing about the spread of fake news facilitated by deepfake technology.
These digitally manipulated images, which often involve explicit content, pose significant challenges for social media platforms and authorities. The sophistication of generative artificial intelligence tools, including Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and DALL-E, has made it increasingly easy and inexpensive to create convincing deepfakes. More than 90% of deepfake videos online are pornographic, with women being the primary targets.
While major social media firms like Google’s YouTube and Meta Platforms (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) have updated their policies to address AI-generated content, the responsibility largely falls on victims—primarily women—to take action. The challenge is exacerbated in conservative societies where online harassment has historically gone unpunished.
As Pakistan grapples with the potential impact of deepfakes on its election, concerns about spreading fake news and inciting violence persist. Bollywood stars, including Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif, Alia Bhatt, and Deepika Padukone, have been targeted with deepfake content. Indian actor Rashmika Mandanna emphasized the urgent need for collective action to address identity theft and the misuse of technology.
The international community is also recognizing the dangers of deepfake technology. In a recent non-binding agreement, 18 countries, including the United States and Britain, pledged to address AI misuse, including deepfakes. Regulations, however, remain slow to emerge globally. While countries like China and South Korea have implemented measures against illegal deepfakes, concerns about privacy protection and preventing abuse persist.
The rise of deepfakes presents unique challenges in deeply religious or conservative societies, where manipulated images and videos can lead to real-world harm. Recent incidents include deepfake videos of female opposition politicians in Bangladesh and an alleged honor killing in Pakistan triggered by a doctored photograph.
As India drafts new rules, its IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has emphasized the need for social media firms to promptly remove deepfakes. However, advocates stress the importance of proactive measures to prevent incidents rather than reactive responses.
The threat posed by deepfakes to women’s privacy and safety is deeply concerning, particularly in the context of disinformation campaigns ahead of elections. Nighat Dad, founder of the Digital Rights Foundation in Pakistan, highlights the risk of creating an increasingly unsafe online environment for women, potentially discouraging their participation in politics and online spaces.
The focus on deepfake threats now calls for collaborative efforts from platforms, policymakers, and society to create a safer and more inclusive online environment, particularly for women and vulnerable communities. The heightened attention to this issue may pave the way for more comprehensive regulations and safeguards against the misuse of AI technology.
