Maqāsid al-Sharī'ah amid digital distortion: an integrative Islamic legal framework addressing deepfakes

This study examines the threat deepfakes pose to the realization of maqāsid al-sharī’ah, and develops an integrative Islamic-legal framework to protect honour (hifz al-‘ird) in the era of digital distortion. Using a doctrinal and comparative normative-qualitative method, the analysis reviews contemporary literature on maqāsid al-sharī’ah, the ITE Law, the PDP Law, the TPKS Law, and digital-forensics research. The study identifies three interrelated threat dimensions: technical (biometric manipulation of faces and voices), epistemic (erosion of the evidentiary value of audiovisual material), and normative (defamation, slander, blackmail, and synthetic pornography). Findings indicate that existing statutory frameworks are partial and general, forensic capacity remains limited, and current evidentiary procedures are ill-equipped to secure admissibility of AI-generated evidence. Interpreting these gaps through the maqāsid al-sharī’ah lens shows that assaults on honour affect the five fundamental protections, requiring an integrated normative response. The proposed framework comprises: narrowly defined offences criminalizing creation and distribution of degrading or exploitative deepfakes; AI-aware evidentiary standards—accredited forensic laboratories, secure electronic chains-of-custody, and admissibility criteria consonant with sharia evidence principles; and proportional ta’zīr sanctions coupled with restorative justice and victim compensation. For implementation, the study advocates a cross-agency pilot, steering committee, verification SOPs, rapid takedown channels, and measurable evaluation indicators. Safeguards, limited offence definitions, high mens rea thresholds, and appeal mechanisms, are essential to prevent oversuppression. The study concludes that effective solutions must be transdisciplinary and maqāsid al-sharī’ah-consistent. Further empirical research and pilot testing are required to validate and adapt policy responses to evolving technology.