Whether deepfakes are or are not a form of sexual criminality is an absolute based on the jurisdiction. Either it is a crime there or it isn't. That's independent of whether or not individuals or the population agree it should be, whether it's moral, whether it's seen as overreaching, or any other consideration beyond what the law there says.
Yea, sure, being gay or having anal sex, is still a crime too in some places.
We can argue it shouldn't be considered a crime and I'd argue deepfakes should not be a crime. I'd also argue considering them so is close to "thought police".
And, I'd argue fighting them is a losing cause. They get easier and easier to make daily. Lots of papers at the most recent Siggraph on how to take a single photo and turn it into an deepfake, oh, I mean avatar for a game, model for virtual clothes fitting, etc...
To me, its just another form of fiction. Its as much a crime as writing a story where you base a character in it on someone you know, and subject that character to sexual acts. Sure its depraved, but it doesn't pass the criminality threshold for me, not by a long shot.
And no, i do not see the use of real photos and video to be material to this specific discussion.
I think this issue is a great way to evaluate the values and integrity of a society.
