Archita Phukan Viral Video: Deepfakes Are Destroying Women's Reputations, How You Can Protect Yourself

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When Archita Phukan, an Assam-based influencer popularly known online as Babydoll Archi, found her friends forwarding her morphed photos, her heart sank. What started off as an ordinary day quickly turned into a disturbing revelation-her pictures, paired with an adult film star's face, were circulating online via a fake profile. It wasn't just a case of casual trolling. It was an act of calculated malice, and heartbreakingly, the person behind it was someone she once knew intimately.

The fake account had been active for weeks, posing as Archita and sharing manipulated images that linked her name with US adult star Kendra Lust. According to the police, the man running this account was none other than Pratim Bora, her former partner. Bora, a resident of Tinsukia, had reportedly created the fake social media profile after their relationship ended on a bitter note.

Well, in digital India, where every selfie, Instagram reel, and innocent video is floating around online, deepfake technology has opened the floodgates for a new kind of abuse. Women-especially influencers, students, actors, and everyday social media users-are finding themselves in videos they never filmed and situations they never consented to.

And the scariest part? It's nearly impossible to prove it wasn't them.

With cases like that of influencer Archita Phukan, whose morphed images were circulated alongside adult film stars, the truth is loud and terrifying: your online presence can be weaponised against you, especially if you're a woman.
So, how can you protect yourself in a world where even reality can be faked? Let's break it down.

1. Check Your Digital Footprint Monthly

Audit your digital presence like you'd check your bank account. Look for accounts impersonating you, altered photos, or suspicious tags. Use tools like Google Reverse Image Search or FaceCheck.ID to track where your photos are being used.
Most women don't realise their old Facebook photos or archived Instagram posts are often stolen and manipulated.

2. Avoid High-Resolution Front-Facing Photos

The better the quality, the easier it is to create a believable fake. Try to avoid sharing clear frontal videos or high-res selfies, especially with expressive movements or eye contact-which AI loves for mapping deepfakes.
You don't need to erase your digital identity, just tweak your posting habits.

3. Use Watermarks or Filters Strategically

Adding your name subtly as a watermark or using branded filters can make your content harder to steal. AI struggles with overlays, shadows, or distorted features, which can act like a fingerprint on your content.
It won't prevent deepfakes entirely, but it slows them down.

4. Report Immediately

Many women don't report because they fear judgment or feel they won't be believed. But silence empowers abusers.
In India, you can:

• File a cybercrime complaint online at cybercrime.gov.in
• Approach your nearest cyber cell
• Lodge an FIR citing defamation, obscenity, identity theft, and Section 66E & 67 of the IT Act

Even if the perpetrator is anonymous, digital forensics can often trace IP addresses and source devices.

5. Talk About It

Victims are often told to "stay quiet" to avoid embarrassment. But silence breeds fear. Influencers like Babydoll Archi and several actresses have spoken out, making space for others to come forward.
Public pressure and awareness are powerful tools. The more we talk about it, the faster authorities and platforms respond.

6. Don't Share Sensitive Media, Even Privately

Many deepfake abusers are ex-partners, like in the Archita Phukan case. Sextortion often starts with intimate media sent during the relationship, later altered or leaked post-breakup.
Trust doesn't protect you. Not sending is the only true protection.

7. Demand Platform Accountability

Report and flag deepfake content on Instagram, X, YouTube, Reddit and demand immediate takedown. Most platforms have AI moderation teams, but they work better when content is flagged in volume.
Encourage your friends and followers to report fake content, not just ignore it.

8. Use Deepfake Detection Tools

Tools like Deepware Scanner, Sensity.ai, or browser plug-ins like Reality Defender can help detect manipulated content. They're not foolproof, but they're a start.
The tech that creates deepfakes is evolving, but so is the tech that catches them.

9. Push For Stronger Legal Protections

India is still catching up. While the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita includes digital defamation and obscenity, deepfakes require more targeted laws. Public outrage often leads to political momentum.
Signing petitions, voting wisely, and supporting digital safety bills can make a difference.

10. If It Happens To You, It's Not Your Fault

You didn't ask for this. You didn't "overshare." You didn't deserve it.
Victim-blaming is outdated. Today's deepfake crimes are premeditated, digital assaults meant to silence, shame, or control women.
And the only way to fight back is to speak up, support each other, and stay digitally smart.

Deepfakes are more than just internet tricks-they are modern tools of harassment, shame, and control, especially when weaponised against women. While technology continues to evolve, so must our awareness, our legal systems, and our collective response. Don't wait to become a victim to start protecting yourself. And if you already have, know that your voice matters more than ever. The future of digital safety for women depends on how loudly we call out the lies, support the truth, and reclaim our virtual spaces.