Deepfakes: A Hidden Threat to Lives
For a growing number of young victims, online harassment has taken a disturbing and lasting toll. Lawyer Sean Smith has seen the devastating consequences of nonconsensual deepfakes, a type of image-based sexual abuse that can ruin lives.
The Rise of Nonconsensual Deepfakes
Teenage girls are often targeted in the making of these explicit images, digitally manipulated using artificial intelligence software available online. The apps and websites create them under the guise of satisfaction and entertainment, leaving users unaware of the crippling trauma they inflict on victims, typically girls and women. These haunting images can never be fully removed from the internet, even with the best efforts to erase them.
The Fallout
For those on the receiving end of nonconsensual deepfakes, professional, personal, and financial devastation loom. The same consequences threaten to engulf perpetrators, faced with potential suspension, expulsion, and legal consequences. “It destroys lives on every side,” Smith warned, acknowledging that it’s crucial to inform youths about these consequences.
Legal Action Grows
In response to rising reports of nonconsensual deepfakes, several US states have drafted laws criminalizing them. Pending congressional bills aim to extend rights to victims, enabling them to take legal action against perpetrators. States where creators can face civil penalties have yet to develop a comprehensive legal framework for managing and eliminating nonconsensual content.
Minors Get Caught Up
Teenage girls and boys are frequent perpetrators of nonconsensual deepfakes, often lacking insight into the harm they inflict. Varying school disciplinary measures address instances of deepfaking among minors, with some public schools providing brief suspensions. However, private schools may quickly apply heavier penalties, including expulsion. In instances of negligence, parents might consider legal action against the perpetrators or their family.
A Dark Outlook Ahead
As law enforcement addresses instances of nonconsensual deepfakes, victims can petition for restraining orders to protect themselves. Harassing content can also tarnish one’s reputation, following individuals into their professional lives. A looming crisis demands urgent understanding between parents, teens, and lawmakers – any mistake made now could define a lifetime.
If you’re a victim of nonconsensual image sharing, seek help now:
Call the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative’s 24/7 hotline: 844-878-2274
Access supportive resources on the CCRI website
EndTAB (Ending Tech-Enabled Abuse) offers assistance through the #EndTAB movement.
Protect yourself and others from these haunting digital attacks.
