The Dilemmas and Breakthroughs in Criminal Regulation of Deepfakes -Focusing on Technological Alienation and Legal Responses
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The Dilemmas and Breakthroughs in Criminal Regulation of Deepfakes -Focusing on Technological Alienation and Legal Responses

Yixiao An 1*
1 University of Jinan
*Corresponding author: 15898981553@163.com
Published on 5 November 2025
Volume Cover
LNEP Vol.115
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-513-4
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-514-1
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Abstract

As a product of the artificial intelligence era, deepfake is of landmark significance in fields such as entertainment and art. However, its alienation has simultaneously brought about negative consequences such as personal privacy violations, threats to political security, disruption of economic order, crises of social trust, etc. Studies have shown that with characteristics of high deceptiveness and low accessibility, deepfake technology is susceptible to exploitation by criminals for fraud, defamation, and the dissemination of obscene materials. Currently, China is facing challenges such as limitations in post-incident protection models, inappropriate criminalisation standards, inadequate safeguards for biometric information, etc., in regulating deepfake crimes. Based on overseas legislative experiences and China's existing legal framework, this paper proposes optimization pathways for addressing challenges in the criminal regulation of deepfakes, which include legislative suggestions such as establishing specific criminal charges, strengthening platform liability, and enhancing criminal law protection for personal biometric information, as well as comprehensive consideration of conviction and sentencing standards at the judicial level. The study concludes that deepfake technology should be viewed rationally and comprehensively. Effective governance can be achieved by refining regulatory frameworks to ensure the technology's reasonable application and prevent its uncontrolled misuse or distortion.

Keywords:

Deepfake, Criminal Law, Crime, Criminal Regulation

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An,Y. (2025). The Dilemmas and Breakthroughs in Criminal Regulation of Deepfakes -Focusing on Technological Alienation and Legal Responses. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,115,48-54.

References

[1]. Zheng, G. J. (2025) Criminal Law Responses to the Abuse of Deepfake Technology. Science of Law(Journal of Northwest University of Political Science and Law), 3, 56-68.

[2]. Robert, C., Danielle, K. C. (2019) 21st Century - Style Truth Decay: Deep Fakes and the Challenge for Privacy, Free Expression, and National Security. Maryland Law Review．

[3]. Wei, S. Y., Liu, Y. Z. (2020) Deepfake Technology Is Undermining Trust in Cyberspace. Chinese Journal of Computers.

[4]. Jiang, Y. (2021) Dimensions and Limits of Criminal Regulation for Risks Posed by Artificial Intelligence “Deepfake” Technology. Social Sciences in Nanjing, 9, 101-109.

[5]. Bobby, C., Danielle, C. (2019) Deep Fakes: A Looming Challenge for Privacy, Democracy, and National Security. Cali-fornia Law Review．

[6]. None. (2024) Deepfake High-Level Directive Transfer Swindles Two Billion from Multinational Companies. Wen Wei Po Daily in Hong Kong.

[7]. Feng, M. Y., Jiang, T. (2023) Criminal Regulation of Deepfake Abuse. Hubei Social Sciences, 4, 127-135.

[8]. Wang, W. J., Ma, F. (2021) The Dilemma and Solutions for Criminalizing the Algorithm-Driven Dissemination of Illegal “Deepfake” Information. Press Circles, 1, 64-74.

[9]. Li, H. S. (2020) Criminal Sanctions for the Abuse of Personal Biometric Information: A Case Study of Artificial Intelligence “Deepfakes”. Political and Legal Forum, 4, 144-154.

[10]. Chen, R. (2024) Criminal Regulation of Deepfakes Involving Sexual Information. Law Science, 3, 76-90.

[11]. Li, M. L. (2021) Criminal Law Governance Approaches for Deepfakes. Journal of Law and Technology (Chinese and English Edition), 6, 40-47+73.

[12]. Liu, X. T. (2025) Normative construction of platform criminal liability in the governance of deepfake technology. Advances in Social Behavior Research, 4, 47-53.

[13]. Li, T. (2020) Construction of Criminal Regulatory Framework for Deepfake Technology. Academic Journal of Zhongzhou, 10, 53-62.

References

[1]. Zheng, G. J. (2025) Criminal Law Responses to the Abuse of Deepfake Technology. Science of Law(Journal of Northwest University of Political Science and Law), 3, 56-68.

[2]. Robert, C., Danielle, K. C. (2019) 21st Century - Style Truth Decay: Deep Fakes and the Challenge for Privacy, Free Expression, and National Security. Maryland Law Review．

[3]. Wei, S. Y., Liu, Y. Z. (2020) Deepfake Technology Is Undermining Trust in Cyberspace. Chinese Journal of Computers.

[4]. Jiang, Y. (2021) Dimensions and Limits of Criminal Regulation for Risks Posed by Artificial Intelligence “Deepfake” Technology. Social Sciences in Nanjing, 9, 101-109.

[5]. Bobby, C., Danielle, C. (2019) Deep Fakes: A Looming Challenge for Privacy, Democracy, and National Security. Cali-fornia Law Review．

[6]. None. (2024) Deepfake High-Level Directive Transfer Swindles Two Billion from Multinational Companies. Wen Wei Po Daily in Hong Kong.

[7]. Feng, M. Y., Jiang, T. (2023) Criminal Regulation of Deepfake Abuse. Hubei Social Sciences, 4, 127-135.

[8]. Wang, W. J., Ma, F. (2021) The Dilemma and Solutions for Criminalizing the Algorithm-Driven Dissemination of Illegal “Deepfake” Information. Press Circles, 1, 64-74.

[9]. Li, H. S. (2020) Criminal Sanctions for the Abuse of Personal Biometric Information: A Case Study of Artificial Intelligence “Deepfakes”. Political and Legal Forum, 4, 144-154.

[10]. Chen, R. (2024) Criminal Regulation of Deepfakes Involving Sexual Information. Law Science, 3, 76-90.

[11]. Li, M. L. (2021) Criminal Law Governance Approaches for Deepfakes. Journal of Law and Technology (Chinese and English Edition), 6, 40-47+73.

[12]. Liu, X. T. (2025) Normative construction of platform criminal liability in the governance of deepfake technology. Advances in Social Behavior Research, 4, 47-53.

[13]. Li, T. (2020) Construction of Criminal Regulatory Framework for Deepfake Technology. Academic Journal of Zhongzhou, 10, 53-62.

Cite this article

An,Y. (2025). The Dilemmas and Breakthroughs in Criminal Regulation of Deepfakes -Focusing on Technological Alienation and Legal Responses. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,115,48-54.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICILLP 2025 Symposium: Property Law and Blockchain Applications in International Law and Legal Policy

ISBN: 978-1-80590-513-4(Print) / 978-1-80590-514-1(Online)
Editor: Renuka Thakore
Conference website: https://2025.icillp.org/London.html
Conference date: 21 November 2025
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.115
ISSN: 2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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