Some concerns over the attribution of blame to non-consensual sexual deepfakes: A response to Patrone and Viola

Abstract In this commentary, I challenge Fabio Patrone and Marco Viola’s claim (in their 2026 article, Patrone, F., & Viola, M. (2026). Non-consensual sexual deepfakes as direct personal harm. Philosophy & Technology , 39 (94), 1–22) that their metaphysical approach to personhood provides a solid grounding for the attribution of blame to non-consensual sexual deepfakes Using two examples – The Case of Mistaken Identity and The ‘Stud’ – I aim to show that Patrone and Viola’s metaphysical approach is neither necessary nor sufficient for the ascription of blame to non-consensual sexual deepfakes.