By Fiel Gia Ramada
Actress Angel Aquino opened up about the shock and violation she felt after discovering her face was used in a pornographic video without her consent, calling the experience “nakakabastos” and “para akong nasusuka” during the recent Senate hearing on deepfake pornography.
“Days ago, I found out that there was a deepfake video using my face and it was a friend from the industry who reached out to me and told me about it,” Aquino shared during the session held by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, led by Senator Risa Hontiveros.
Deepfake pornography, which digitally places a person’s face in explicit content, is increasingly recognized as a serious violation of privacy and dignity.
Being an actress herself, she is fully aware of the risks of being in the limelight but she explained that doesn’t call for people to use their image for such vile things.
“I understand that being public property is one of the tradeoffs of this job. Pero sana naman only up to a certain extent.”
She described her reaction as both physical and emotional. “When I learned of my deepfake, my reaction was both internal and physical. As in, para akong nasusuka. I felt ill, nauseated, confused and stunned in the beginning. Then, it was disgust and anger for being violated as a person in a revolting and humiliating way.”
Angel warned that such abuse is not limited to only to public figures. “The creators and perpetrators of these deepfake are not just scary, unknown perverts, but also ordinary everyday individuals. Hindi natin sila kilala and they’re just there walking around with us. Hindi natin alam kung anong ginagawa nila with pictures that are just available on the internet. And it can just be anybody that they can victimize, not just us who are public figures, maski mga bata ginagawan nila ng ganito.”
Calling it “the new frontier of violence against women,” she urged lawmakers to strengthen laws against AI-generated sexual abuse.
“These deepfake photos and videos hurt and violate real people. I urge you all to take action, punish the perpetrators, those who share and repost, the websites that host it, the platforms that turn a blind eye while it spreads, those who make money out of this, accountability must be total.
She concluded her speech by urging lawmakers to enact stronger laws that will truly protect the victims of these faceless, immoral perpetrators.
“Let this not just be a discussion. Let this result to strong enforceable law.”
