Deepfake Laws in India (2025): What Rights Do Victims Have?

While deepfakes become more common in India, the legal landscape is still catching up. Victims of ddepfake often feel lost and helpless. This blog explains your legal rights, deepfake laws and how SOHUM can help in deepfake removal.

A deepfake is a synthetic media technique that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning to create hyper-realistic images, videos, or audio recordings that appear to be real but are entirely fake or manipulated. The term combines “deep learning” and “fake”.

Deepfakes are created using a type of AI called Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). This advanced machine learning technique involves two neural networks—the generator and the discriminator—working in opposition to each other. The generator creates fake content (such as images, videos, or audio), while the discriminator evaluates it against real-world data and tries to detect if it’s fake. The goal of the generator is to continuously improve until the content it produces is indistinguishable from actual human-created material. Over time, through countless iterations, the generator becomes so effective that it can fool even trained human eyes and sophisticated detection systems.Two neural networks are used:

Generator – creates fake content.
Discriminator – tries to detect if the content is real or fake.

This adversarial process continues until the fake is so convincing that it’s hard to tell it apart from reality.

GANs are particularly powerful because they allow machines to learn and replicate complex patterns of human behavior, voice, and facial expressions. For example, a deepfake video might take someone’s face and map it onto another person’s body, synchronizing facial movements and lip-syncing with incredible accuracy. Similarly, in deepfake audio, the AI learns to mimic a person’s voice tone, pitch, and accent to generate speech that sounds authentic.

This technology has legitimate uses in industries like filmmaking, video game design, and virtual reality. However, in the wrong hands, GANs can be exploited to create deceptive content that spreads misinformation, damages reputations, and undermines public trust in digital media.

Erosion of Trust – When videos can be faked, it undermines trust in digital media.
Reputation Damage – Individuals and public figures can be falsely implicated.
Cybercrime – Deepfake audio/video is used in phishing scams and corporate fraud.
Election Interference – Faked political speeches can spread false narratives.

As of 2025, there is no single law titled “Deepfake Act.” But existing laws can still protect you: