Technology brings new capabilities and new challenges into our world. Thanks to new artificial intelligence tools, deepfake image-based sexual abuse (also known as involuntary pornography, cyber rape, nonconsensual pornography, digitally altered imagery abuse, deepfake porn, or explicit deepfakes) is on the rise. Healing from the trauma requires a sensitive approach.
What is deepfake image-based sexual abuse?
- “Deepfake” is a portmanteau of “deep learning” (an artificial intelligence term) and “fake.” It refers to digitally created or manipulated pictures and videos depicting a person in a way that appears real, but it’s actually fake—it never happened.
- Image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) is an umbrella term that refers to the creation, theft, and/or distribution of sexually explicit materials without the consent of the person depicted. It includes blackmailing, non-consensual recording, pressuring someone to create or share sexually explicit content, and creating sexually explicit deepfake videos and images.
Perpetrators of IBSA used to use real images exclusively. But with the rise of AI image creation tools, it’s possible to create credible-looking-but-fake images of a person doing or saying something they did not do or say. Including content of a sexual nature.
Emotional repercussions
Image-based sexual abuse can cause trauma and life disruption for the survivor. Seeking help can be beneficial, but not all survivors do. Barriers to seeking help may include shame, financial concerns, fear of negative repercussions from family and friends, or sociocultural norms. Some struggle with acknowledging that the abuse was “real” because of its digital nature.
Some of the feelings a survivor of image-based sexual abuse might experience include:
- Shock
- Fear
- Loss of control
- Anxiety
- Shame
- Anger
- Embarrassment
- Despair
- Suicidal ideation
- Nightmares
- Paranoia
- Intrusive thoughts
- Dissociation
- Isolation
The ease with which images can be replicated and reposted digitally means that even when the abusive images are taken down from their original locations, they can show up again anywhere, at any point in the future. Each time a survivor encounters an instance of the non-consensual deepfake, it can feel like a reiteration of the abuse.
Seeking support
If you’ve experienced image-based sexual abuse, reach out to friends and family to support your healing. If you feel stuck in a “freeze” mode or if you feel isolated or disconnected, a therapist can help you move toward healing and maintain momentum in that direction.
Seek out a therapist that specializes in trauma work. This type of healing requires a sensitive approach. Many therapists offer a complimentary consultation call, where you can ask them questions and get a sense of their communication style and therapeutic approach. Take your time and give yourself permission to find a therapist that feels like a good fit for you. You are allowed to “shop around.”
Some areas you and your therapist may explore:
- Setting digital boundaries – Staying off the internet entirely is often not a realistic option, so you and your therapist can come up with a set of guidelines that will provide structure and limitations on the frequency and time spent searching for new instances of the abusive images of yourself.
- Reconnecting with your body – Survivors of sexual abuse, whether it’s physical or digital, can experience dissociation—where they feel disconnected from their body. Dissociation is one way people cope with overwhelming emotions. Somatic healing practices like gentle movement, breathwork, meditation, and therapeutic bodywork can communicate to the nervous system that it is safe to move out of a sympathetic response mode (fight or flight) and into a parasympathetic mode (rest and digest).
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – CBT has been shown to be highly effective in treating trauma and sexual assault. It involves learning to reframe problematic thoughts and behaviors and respond to them in more effective ways, going forward.
- Other approaches may include internal family systems, narrative-solutions therapy, and compassion-focused therapy.
In therapy, there is no single “correct” approach. Your intention and effort are what matter most. It’s about cultivating a productive relationship with your clinician and continuing to show up and do the work. Healing is worth it.
The Image-Based Abuse Project
The Image-Based Abuse Project is a helpful resource for survivors of image-based sexual abuse. It was created by a small team of researchers in Australia, led by Professor Nicola Henry, a socio-legal scholar with over two decades of research experience in the sexual violence field. Its goals are to educate and help survivors, as well as gather information about image-based abuse. They hope to “translate research into practical outcomes and benefits, including more robust and effective legal, policy, educational, and corporate responses to image-based abuse.”
The project creators built a chatbot called Umi (pronounced “you-me”), which is designed to be “a one-stop, comprehensive, empathetic and non-judgmental informational tool” for survivors of IBSA. They suggest that Umibot may be useful for someone who has experienced image-based abuse but isn’t ready to speak to another person about it yet.
If you’ve experienced image-based abuse and would like to help them further their research, you can participate by reaching out for an interview.
The law is still catching up
Australian lawyer Noelle Martin decided to take a stand when she discovered that her face had been used to create sexually explicit content without her consent using AI. She worked to help criminalize image-based sexual abuse across Australia.
Depending on where you are in the world, there may be laws that allow you to take action against the perpetrator. But because it’s such a new phenomenon, legal protections have not caught up everywhere. And it’s not always easy to discover who created the content—or how to get it removed and hold the perpetrator accountable.
Conclusion
Image-based sexual abuse can create trauma and a sense of disempowerment for the survivor. The damage inflicted can be multifaceted and complex to untangle. But healing is possible, with the help of friends, family, and a therapist.
If you’re looking for a therapist to help you heal from image-based sexual abuse, schedule a complimentary intake call today.
