Perspectives on Non-consensual Deepfake Pornography: A Content Analysis of Reddit Discussions Initiated by Perpetrators, Victims, and Bystanders

Non-consensual deepfake pornography is an emerging form of image-based sexual abuse (IBSA). It involves the non-consensual creation, distribution, or threat to distribute nude or sexual imagery generated using artificial intelligence (AI-IBSA). Although the legal, socio-cultural, and technological aspects of this phenomenon have received scholarly attention, the lived experiences of those involved remain underexamined. This study addresses this gap by analyzing Reddit discussions to examine the perspectives of perpetrators, victims, bystanders, and the community responses, drawing on routine activity theory (RAT). A deductive analysis of 134 Reddit initial posts identified who initiated the discussions (RQ1) and the relational, gender, and age dynamics between parties (RQ2). Seven typical discussion threads (269 comments) were inductively analyzed to explore the experiences of perpetrators (RQ3), victims (RQ4), and bystanders (RQ5), alongside community responses. Findings indicate that most threads were initiated by bystanders (45.5%; RQ1). Victims (85.8%) and bystanders (46.3%) were predominantly women, while perpetrators were mostly men (81.3%), often targeting individuals within their social networks (RQ2). Experiences ranged from perpetrators’ guilt to victims’ and bystanders’ distress. Across groups, participants reported emotional, psychological, relational, and interpersonal harms (RQ3–5). Through the lens of RAT, the study highlights the convergence of perpetrators’ motives and technical capabilities, victims’ vulnerability factors, and bystanders’ lack of capable guardianship. Community responses on Reddit offered support and moral reflection but also revealed patterns of harm minimization and technological fascination. These findings underscore the need for multi-level interventions, including mental health support, legal resources, digital literacy, and public education on consent and tech-facilitated abuse.