  AI technology has enabled the creation of deepfakes: hyper-realistic
synthetic media. We surveyed 315 individuals in the U.S. on their views
regarding the hypothetical non-consensual creation of deepfakes depicting them,
including deepfakes portraying sexual acts. Respondents indicated strong
opposition to creating and, even more so, sharing non-consensually created
synthetic content, especially if that content depicts a sexual act. However,
seeking out such content appeared more acceptable to some respondents.
Attitudes around acceptability varied further based on the hypothetical
creator's relationship to the participant, the respondent's gender and their
attitudes towards sexual consent. This study provides initial insight into
public perspectives of a growing threat and highlights the need for further
research to inform social norms as well as ongoing policy conversations and
technical developments in generative AI.
