DEEPFAKES AND THE DIGITIAL DIGNITY OF WOMEN IN INDIA

This paper explores the escalating crisis of AI-generated deepfakes and their impact on the digital dignity of women in India. With India facing the highest rate of AI-driven targeting globally, this study critiques the current patchwork regulatory framework consisting of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023, and the IT Rules. The analysis highlights significant legislative gaps, such as the celebrity bias in personality rights and the challenges posed by the "liar dividend" in evidentiary law. By comparing India's reactive downstream model with the proactive upstream legislation of the European Union and the United Kingdom, the paper argues for a shift toward a safety by design philosophy. Ultimately, the research proposes the creation of a "Right to Digital Integrity" and the criminalization of non-consensual deepfake creation to ensure that digital dignity is protected as a fundamental right for all women rather than a privilege for the famous.