DEEPFAKE DISAPPEARANCES: AI-GENERATED EVIDENCE AND IMPUNITY IN BALOCH MISSING-PERSONS CASES

Abstract

This research investigates the convergence between deepfake technology and human rights abuse in Balochistan with regards to missing person’s case. Deepfakes, altered video and radio files using artificial intelligence (AI), have become tools of disinformation with the potential for generating false evidence in legal or social processes. This paper explores how AI-generated media (namely, deepfakes) are used to conceal or fabricate evidence in the case of disappeared persons in Balochistan, which is infamous for political instability and human rights violations. By using a mixed-methods approach, this study examines the role of AI-manipulated imagery on public opinion formation, government accountability and impunity. Interviews with influencers (journalists, activists, lawyers) and a review of AI uses cases and the role played by digital media supplement this analysis. The findings indicate that deepfakes facilitate evasion of justice, by allowing for the manipulation of evidence and counter-forensic practices to attack victims’ testimony. The research highlights the importance of regulation tailored to address specific issues presented by AI in political conflict areas.

Keywords: Deepfakes, Balochistan, missing persons, AI-generated evidence, impunity, human rights, political unrest.