Bridging Legal Gaps in AI-Generated Deepfake Pornography: A Comparative Approach to Privacy and Digital Ethics

Abstract

This study aims to examine the legal gaps in regulating AI-generated deepfake pornography and to develop a comparative regulatory model to strengthen privacy protection and digital ethics in Indonesia. The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has facilitated the creation and dissemination of non-consensual synthetic pornographic content, posing serious threats to individual privacy, dignity, and psychological well-being, while existing Indonesian laws remain fragmented and inadequate. This research employs normative legal research using statutory, conceptual, and comparative approaches, focusing on Indonesian regulations and comparative frameworks from California and South Korea. The findings reveal that current Indonesian legal instruments, including the Electronic Information and Transactions Law, the Pornography Law, and the Personal Data Protection Law, do not explicitly regulate deepfake pornography, resulting in legal uncertainty, enforcement challenges, and insufficient victim protection. In contrast, comparative jurisdictions provide clearer definitions, consent-based standards, and comprehensive victim remedies. This study proposes a regulatory reform model based on lex specialis principles, digital ethics, victim-centered protection, and adaptive legal governance to address AI-based digital crimes. The originality of this research lies in its integrative comparative framework that connects criminal law, personal data protection, and digital ethics to formulate a comprehensive and future-oriented legal response. These findings contribute to the development of responsive legal policies and provide a normative foundation for regulating synthetic media to safeguard digital privacy and human dignity in the artificial intelligence era.