Verifying images: deepfakes, control, and consent

ABSTRACT Deepfakes are portrayed as ‘deceptive media’ that amalgamate fact and fiction. But even when they do seem threatening to our narratives of the truth, there is still room for pushback to the problem of deepfakes thwarting control over images of women. In this article, I first examine the general phenomenon of deepfake porn as a misogynistic way to control women’s images. I then present some lessons from photographic studies about manipulated images before turning to a case study that directly addresses image consent: the verification system used on the bulletin board thread Reddit Gonewild. I argue that the verification system is a way for women to reclaim their own image as new ways of digitally manipulating images and evidence emerge. By verifying their images, these women are also emphasizing the importance of consent in all forms of porn production and consumption.