Perception of Deepfakes among Bangladeshi Women

TL;DR

The paper investigates Bangladeshi women's perception of deepfakes and the sociocultural factors shaping awareness, fear, and coping. Using 15 semi-structured interviews and reflexive thematic analysis, the authors reveal that deepfakes are interpreted as societal threats exacerbated by gender norms rather than mere detection challenges. Key contributions include highlighting sociotechnical pathways of harm, policy and design implications for gender-sensitive mitigation, and a feminist HCI/Responsible AI framing. The findings suggest practical implications for culturally grounded interventions, reporting workflows, and education to reduce harm in Global South contexts.

Abstract

As deepfake technology becomes more accessible, concerns about its misuse and societal impact are escalating, particularly in regions like the Global South where digital literacy and regulatory measures are often limited. While previous research has explored deepfakes in contexts such as detection and media manipulation, there is a noticeable gap in understanding how individuals in these regions perceive and interact with deepfake media. This study addresses this gap by investigating how Bangladeshi women perceive deepfakes and the socio-cultural factors influencing their awareness, concerns, and responses to this technology. Drawing on 15 semi-structured interviews, we uncover how cultural values, gendered norms, trust in institutions, and the prevalence of digital harassment shape their perceptions and coping mechanisms. Through this research, we aim to advance existing scholarship in HCI by offering insights into the design of culturally sensitive interventions, educational initiatives, and policy frameworks to address the challenges posed by deepfakes in the Global South.