Janhvi Kapoor has opened up about a deeply disturbing experience from her teenage years and the emotional effects deepfake technology has on young people.
Janhvi recalled an incident when she was just a 15-year-old and didn’t know about deepfake technology. Some of her classmates were surfing inappropriate websites for fun at school, she said. It was at that time when she saw an explicit video appearing online which featured her face.
“I can’t even describe what I felt when I realized that I was being manipulated and used without my consent,” she said. Now the video has spread to other sites, she said. She still thinks about that day emotionally.
She and her peers did not know what deepfake technology was and how content was generated. The situation was so chaotic and traumatic even for them. Janhvi said that young people are particularly susceptible to the misuse of technology because they don’t know what deepfake technology is and they don’t understand or have a support system to deal with it.
She also said her own experience is a great model for people who will use technology like artificial intelligence. She also spoke about tools like deepfake AI which could be used to create fake, dangerous content for women and young girls in general not only women but girls.
The actress also made an emotional plea that people not “play with the lives of women” by using such technologies. And she said what might seem like a prank or experiment to some might have long-lasting psychological consequences for victims.
Her revelations have once again put the issue of digital harassment on the forefront and AI content should be regulated in a much stronger manner. Deepfake technology is new to people, but experts warned it can be used to spread misinformation, defame people and invade privacy.
Janhvi Kapoor’s honest view is a reminder of the darker side of technological advancement. Her message is about ethics, awareness and accountability in our use of AI, especially for the protection of vulnerable people.
