The fake face of power

deepfakes as a new frontier of gender-based political violence in Brazil

Abstract

https://doi.org/10.1590/2179-8966/2026/95011

article analyzes the instrumentalization of deepfake technology as a contemporary and sophisticated manifestation of gender- and race-based political violence in Brazil. Drawing on an analysis that connects the structural roots of patriarchy and racism to the emergence of new digital weapons, the research investigates how falsified audiovisual content is used to attack, delegitimize, and silence women, with a particular focus on those engaged in institutional politics. Using a qualitative methodology, with bibliographic and documentary review, the study defines the technology, quantifies its predominantly misogynistic application, and frames it within the concept of Image-Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA). It then evaluates the Brazilian legal framework, from Law No. 14.192/2021 to the recent resolution of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) on the use of Artificial.