As data has become increasingly available in recent years, a body of data has emerged that offers benefits but also carries significant potential for misuse. A highly topical and sensitive issue in this context is the creation of so-called „ deepfakes “, which were first mentioned on the „ Reddit “platform in 2017. There is clear evidence that the prevalence of image, audio, and video content generated or manipulated by artificial intelligence is on the rise, posing a real threat to citizens‘ personal rights and to trust in digital media. 

Beyond their use for harmless entertainment and artistic purposes, as well as for generally beneficial purposes, deepfake technologies touch on various areas of law; consequently, particular attention must be paid to their implications in the fields of tort law, copyright law, platform law, data protection law, constitutional law, criminal law, and criminal procedure law. 

The overarching goal of the collaborative project "Protecting citizens‘ privacy and other rights from abuse by Deepfakes (DEEP-PRISMA)" is therefore to improve the conditions for exercising the right to informational self-determination and related rights in the context of deepfakes. To this end, it is first necessary to examine the effects of malicious deepfakes and to systematically assess the effectiveness of both existing laws and regulations designed to protect against such abuse, using multi-layered empirical surveys. Building on this, the goal is to derive recommendations for the protection and enforcement of rights through interdisciplinary dialogue and to develop proposals for reform.

The project thus contributes to strengthening fundamental rights and safeguarding privacy and personal rights in connection with artificial intelligence technologies. In addition, the project promotes the responsible design of technology in accordance with democratic principles, while also fostering a deeper understanding for individuals to handle data.

The project is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). The project will run for three years (02/2026-01/2029). 

Joint partners: 

• Fraunhofer Institute of Systems and Innovation Research (ISI), Karlsruhe (Coordinator).
• University of Tübingen - International Center for Ethics in the Sciences and Humanities (IZEW)
• University of Karlsruhe -  Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS)
• University of Kassel - Department of Public Law, Project Group for Constitutionally Compatible Technology Design (provet)

Further information can be found on the websites of the IZEW and KIT.

Funding:
Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space

Duration:
February 2026 - January 2029

Project leader:
Priv.- Doz. Dr. Christian Geminn

Staff:
Leon Francis