The Digital Self: Deepfakes, Bodily Autonomy, and the Philosophy of Consent
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The rise of non-consensual AI-generated content has sparked a philosophical inquiry into the 'ontology of the image' and the limits of bodily autonomy. Ethicists argue that digital likenesses should be treated as extensions of the physical self, requiring a fundamental redefinition of 'consent' to protect individuals from digital violations of their personhood.
The rapid advancement of Generative AI has ushered in the 'Deepfake Era,' where the creation of non-consensual synthetic media has moved beyond mere misinformation to a profound violation of individual personhood. This technological shift has prompted ethicists and philosophers to revisit the 'ontology of the image'—the study of the nature of being as it relates to digital representations.
Traditionally, an image was viewed as a separate representation of a person. However, in the age of hyper-realistic AI, the distinction between the physical body and its digital likeness is blurring. Philosophers argue that our digital presence is no longer a mere 'copy' but an 'extension of the self.' Consequently, non-consensual deepfakes, particularly those of an intimate nature, are being framed not just as privacy breaches, but as digital violations of bodily autonomy. This perspective suggests that the harm caused by a deepfake is not just to one's reputation, but to the very core of their personhood.
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