Mahira Khan, Kinza Hashmi and other celebrities condemn AI-generated deepfakes

Pakistani celebrities have strongly condemned the use of AI-generated deepfakes videos targeting female actors and influencers, calling on authorities to take action against those responsible.

Pakistani celebrities have strongly condemned the use of AI-generated deepfakes videos targeting female actors and influencers, calling on authorities to take action against those responsible.

The issue came to light after digital creator Muhammad Ahsan criticised an Instagram account allegedly sharing disturbing AI-generated content involving local and international celebrities.

According to content reviewed by Images, the account contained AI-generated videos depicting deepfakes of celebrities being subjected to violent and degrading treatment. The content allegedly included manipulated videos involving actors such as Hania Aamir, as well as other Pakistani and international public figures.

Ahsan shared a blurred clip in which a deepfakes of him appeared to assault a manipulated version of Hania Aamir. The account had posted a series of similar videos of celebrities and content creators in abusive and inappropriate situations, he said.

The controversy sparked outrage online, with some users reportedly praising the use of AI while others demanded action against the account and its creator. Ahsan urged social media users to report such content whenever they encountered it.

Actor Mahira Khan expressed concern over the broader implications of such behaviour arguing that attitudes toward violence against female celebrities reflect wider societal problems concerning violence against women.

Kinza Hashmi tagged authorities in Punjab, Sindh and Islamabad, urging them to take notice of the issue and act against those responsible.

Actor Tamkenat Mansoor also called for action saying that creating such abusive content should be illegal if it is not already covered by existing laws. She argued that the reaction to the videos highlights troubling attitudes toward women.

Zara Tareen similarly urged people who had encountered the alleged creator’s content to identify and report the individual to the authorities and police.

The incident has also raised questions about Pakistan’s existing legal framework. The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) does not specifically contain provisions dedicated to AI-generated deepfakes. However existing sections concerning online defamation modesty and non-consensual imagery have been used in cases involving manipulated content.

Experts and rights advocates have increasingly warned of the growing threat of AI-generated abuse targeting women around the world. UN Women says women are experiencing high levels of digital abuse, and most deepfake videos shared online are reportedly sexualized images of women.

The controversy has renewed calls for stronger laws faster enforcement and greater accountability for AI-generated abuse on social media.