Know Is Deepfake Porn Illegal? Also discover the laws related to deepfake porn and how to block it.
What Is Deepfake Pornography?
Deepfake pornography is the sexually explicit content that has been digitally manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning algorithms to superimpose someone’s face (often a famous person) onto another person’s body without their consent. This technology can create highly realistic yet entirely fabricated videos, leading to serious privacy violations and legal concerns.
The term deepfake comes from combining “deep learning” and “fake”. These videos are generated through AI technologies like generative adversarial networks (GANs), where two neural networks, a generator and a discriminator, work together to improve the quality of the synthetic content. The resulting videos are often disturbingly life-like, making it difficult for viewers to distinguish real footage from manipulated content.
Earlier, these AI techniques were used to create harmless memes and entertainment, but people gradually started using them for “dark” applications. According to a 2019 report by Deeptrace, 96 % of all deepfake videos online are pornographic, and the majority of them target women, often celebrities. However, increasingly private individuals are becoming victims, making the issue a widespread form of digital violence.
Is Deepfake Porn Illegal?
Yes, deepfake pornography can be illegal, especially when it involves the unauthorised use of someone’s likeness or depicts explicit content without their consent. Although there are no specific laws for “deepfakes” in India. Here are some of the existing laws that can apply,
- Section 66E of the IT Act: Covers violation of privacy through the capture, publication or transmission of images of a person’s private area without consent.
- Sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act: Penalise publishing or transmitting obscene or sexually explicit content electronically.
- Section 354C and 354D of the IPC: Deal with voyeurism and cyberstalking – relevant when someone’s image is used in deepfake porn without permission.
- Section 500 (Defamation) and Section 509 (Insulting the modesty of a woman): It can also apply if deepfake porn affects a women’s reputation.
Even AI-generated content that looks fake can be illegal if it harms someone’s reputation or causes mental trauma. Indian courts have been taking privacy on digital platforms seriously, especially in cases involving women.
Globally, countries like UK, South Korea, China and several U.S states have introduced specific laws criminalising the creation and distribution of non-consensual deepfake porn.
Also Read: AI Porn & Deepfakes: Harm, Ethics, and the Legal Void
State Crimes for Non-Consensual Posting of Deepfake Pornography
In the United States, while there is no comprehensive federal law yet that bans all deepfake porn, many states have enacted their own criminal laws addressing non-consensual deepfake pornography. These typically fall under laws related to intimate image abuse or digital impersonation.
Here are some examples:
- California criminalises the distribution of sexually explicit deepfake media without consent. Victims can sue for damages.
- Texas makes it a criminal offence to create or share a deepfake video with the intent to harm.
- Virginia amended its revenge porn law to include computer-generated images.
- New York allows actors and individuals to take legal action if their likeness is used in synthetic media without consent.
Penalties include fines, civil damages and jail time, depending on the state and severity of the violation.
How to Stop Watching Deepfake Porn
The growing availability of AI porn has made it very easy for users to stumble upon or intentionally seek out AI generated pornography. However, considering the ethical, legal and emotional consequences of watching such materials, it is best to avoid them. If you are struggling with this, you are not alone. Here are some constructive steps you can take.
1. Use Filtering and Blocking Tools
Apps like BlockP and other AI porn blocker can help you filter out deepfake pornographic materials across all browsers and social media platforms. You can also use parental control apps and install browser extensions to flag or block such content.
2. Acknowledge the Psychological Impact and Triggers
Consuming deepfake porn frequently may indicate deeper psychological needs – such as loneliness, stress or lack of intimacy. Like any other addiction, it can escalate and become compulsive. It is because digital pornography can activate the reward circuits in the brain, making it harder to quit over time. The more realistic and immersive the content (which deepfakes certainly are), the stronger the neural reinforcement.
So, replacing these behaviours with healthier habits is the only solution to overcome addiction – try painting, swimming, working out, or even cooking – you have to try something that excites you.
3. Create Accountability and Seek Support
One of the most effective ways to stop watching deepfake porn is to not do it alone. It can be your friend, partner or counsellor – have someone to support your goal because it gives you both accountability and encouragement.
There are even online communities which can help you, like Reddit’s r/NoFap, r/PornAddiction or public forums, where you can find a judgment-free space to discuss your struggles and challenges.
4. Keep a Mindfulness Journal
Identify and understand your triggers – discover what makes you watch porn – is it Sadness? Loneliness? Boredom? Anxiety? When you find out your triggers, you can regulate your habits in a better way.
Keep a journal with you – to put out all your thoughts and struggles. This helps in understanding yourself better, and you can gradually overcome the compulsive behaviours.
How BlockP help in Blocking Deepfake Porn
BlockP is a smart AI-based content filter designed to detect and block porn, including deepfake pornography. For users looking to stop watching deepfake porn, BlockP serves as a digital barrier. It blocks access to adult sites and prevents triggering content appearing in searches, social feeds or suggestion algorithms. Whether you are looking to quit for ethical reasons or personal well-being, BlockP reduces temptation by limiting exposure.
By actively blocking both traditional and AI-generated adult material, BlockP empowers users to create a safer, more respectful digital experience.
FAQs on Is Deepfake Porn Illegal
1. Is AI porn real?
Yes – AI porn is real and it is becoming more accessible through apps and online tools. Even a simple user with no technical skills can generate pornographic content in minutes. This growing ease of creation has sparked global debates over the ethical use of AI and the lack of effective legal frameworks to regulate such content.
2. Is AI porn illegal?
In India, AI porn or deepfake pornography is not directly covered by a specific law. Still, it can be punished under existing laws like Section 66E and 67 of the IT Act that deals with privacy violations and publishing obscene materials. If someone creates or shares AI porn using a person’s image without consent, it may also fall under Section 354D of the IPC (cyberstalking). So yes, AI porn is illegal in India.
3. What are the penalties for sharing deepfake porn in India?
Sharing deepfake porn can result in up to 3 years of imprisonment and/or a fine depending upon the law violated (IT Act or IPC). The punishment is stricter if it harms someone’s reputation.
4. How can I report non-consensual AI-generated porn?
You can file a complaint at your nearest cybercrime police station or report online via the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (https://www.ic3.gov/). Don’t forget to include evidence, link screenshots, videos, links or any other proofs. Having proof is very important while filing a complaint.
Leave a Reply