‘Nobody cared’: new research shows deepfakes are hurting regular people, not just celebrities
Non-consensual sexual deepfakes are easy to make and share. A study with more than 7,000 people shows how widespread they have become.
In a recent study involving over 7,000 individuals from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, researchers have uncovered that AI-generated image-based sexual abuse is affecting not just celebrities but also ordinary people. These non-consensual deepfakes, which involve the creation, distribution, or threatened distribution of synthetic intimate images, can be produced using AI tools that are easily accessible and require little technical skill.
The researchers found that 7% of the survey participants had experienced such abuse, with higher rates among younger people, LGBTQIA+ individuals, Black and Indigenous people of colour, those with disabilities, and men. Perpetrators cited a variety of motivations, some of which were not related to revenge or a desire to cause harm, but rather to experimentation, humour, or seeking attention.
The impacts of these deepfakes on victims included anger, humiliation, shame, embarrassment, fear, helplessness, and distress. Women were more likely to report broader negative emotional and social impacts, while men were more likely to find the experience amusing. The study highlights the urgent need for accountability measures and prevention strategies, such as implementing a digital duty of care for online services, criminalizing the development and supply of AI image-generation tools, and incorporating consent-based education into curricula to address harmful gender norms.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
