Punjab MPA urges women targeted by fabricated content to preserve evidence and report cases to cybercrime authorities

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly member Hina Parvez Butt has raised concerns over the growing misuse of artificial intelligence to violate women’s privacy and dignity, following content creator Jannat Mirza’s claims about fabricated AI-generated content.

Butt addressed the issue on X, describing the fake video involving Mirza as a serious warning about the misuse of technology.

“The fake video generated by AI of Jannat Mirza has highlighted an extremely serious issue,” Butt said. “Technology is for progress and convenience, not for violating anyone’s honour, dignity, and privacy. Using women’s images or faces without permission is unacceptable.”

She added, “No compromise on the honour and protection of women!”

Butt’s remarks came a day after Mirza spoke out after an AI-generated video appeared online showing her alongside a male figure.

Mirza highlighted the difficulties women can face when their images or faces are manipulated and circulated without consent.

She said that as a social media personality, she could publicly clarify whether content involving her was genuine or fabricated. However, women who do not use social media may have far fewer ways to know that their images are being misused.

Mirza also pointed to the potential impact of fabricated videos on a woman’s reputation, dignity and privacy, highlighting wider concerns over the misuse of AI-generated content.

Butt echoed those concerns in a video shared alongside her post.

“Today, AI has become an important part of life, but its misuse without anyone’s, especially women’s, permission should not be allowed,” she said.

She added that the issue was concerning because while one woman may be targeted today, anyone else could become a victim tomorrow.

Butt further said that using a woman’s face without her consent could constitute a digital rights violation and urged victims to take action if manipulated content involving them appeared online.

She advised women to immediately take screenshots or save links to such material while avoiding further circulation of the content.

Butt also urged victims to report such material to the relevant cybercrime authorities. She said women in Punjab could also contact the Punjab Women Protection Authority helpline for assistance.

“This is an important issue that we must tackle, as there can be no threat to women’s integrity and respect,” she said.

The incident has renewed attention on the challenges posed by AI-generated and manipulated content, particularly when women’s images are used without their consent.

As artificial intelligence tools become more accessible, concerns over privacy, consent and digital safety are becoming an increasingly important part of discussions about women’s rights online.