Preventing AI Deepfake Abuse: An Islamic Ethics Framework

TL;DR

This paper develops an Islamic ethical framework to prevent AI deepfake misuse by emphasizing moral responsibility, social harm prevention, and regulatory reforms, shifting from reactive to proactive governance in digital technology.

Contribution

It introduces a novel Islamic ethics-based approach to mitigate deepfake abuse, integrating Maqasid al-Shariah principles for responsible digital technology governance.

Findings

Islamic principles provide a normative foundation for responsible AI use

Regulatory reforms should address intangible and psychological harms

Enhanced digital literacy and moral accountability are crucial for prevention

Abstract

The rapid development of deepfake technology powered by AI has raised global concerns regarding the manipulation of information, the usurpation of digital identities, and the erosion of public trust in the authenticity of online content. These challenges extend beyond technical issues and involve complex moral dimensions, rendering conventional, technologically driven, and reactive management approaches insufficient to address underlying causes such as intent, ethical responsibility, and intangible social harm. In response to these challenges, this study aims to formulate a comprehensive Islamic ethical framework as a preventive approach to mitigate the misuse of deepfake technology. This study employed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), selecting ten primary sources published between 2018 and 2025 to identify ethical gaps, regulatory needs, and appropriate normative solutions. The analysis demonstrates that integrating the principles of Maqasid al-Shariah, particularly hifz al-ird and hifz al-nafs, provides a strong normative foundation for governing the responsible use of digital technology. Based on the findings, this study proposes three strategic recommendations: regulatory reforms that recognize the intangible and psychological harms resulting from reputational damage; strengthened technology governance grounded in moral accountability and the values of adl, amanah, and transparency; and enhanced public digital literacy based on the principle of tabayyun. Overall, the findings suggest that the application of Islamic ethical principles shifts governance paradigms from punitive mechanisms toward preventive approaches that emphasize the protection of human dignity, the prevention of harm, and the promotion of the common good in the digital age.