How Deep is your Love?

The dissertation project focuses on the phenomenon of digital violence. Studies (including HateAid 2024) show that digital violence is often accompanied by a so-called silencing effect, which leads to certain voices being silenced in the digital space. This silencing is discussed in epistemological debates in the context of epistemic violence. The project therefore takes up the concepts of epistemic violence as sensitising concepts in the sense of grounded theory (cf. Brunner 2020; Dotson 2011; Fricker 2007; Spivak 1988). Epistemic violence describes systematic forms of knowledge suppression, such as when people are prevented from expressing or acquiring knowledge or from being recognised as credible. Such processes often follow lines of social difference such as origin, gender or social position. The project assumes that digital and epistemic violence are interrelated and mutually reinforcing.

Against this background, a theoretical model is being developed that analyses deepfakes in two ways in terms of their epistemic effect: as deception on the one hand and as degradation on the other. The focus shifts from a technology-centred detection paradigm to an understanding of deepfakes as a symptom of social power relations.

Based on these theoretical foundations, the project pursues an empirical-participatory research approach that involves both experts and affected parties with the help of focus groups and interviews. The aim is to enable interpretive power and participation in knowledge production, especially for those who are affected by digital violence or work in this field. In addition, various educational media are analysed in terms of their potential for intervention, and approaches for new strategies for action are outlined. On the one hand, this involves individual protection, and on the other, contributing to the common good by promoting a more equitable and resilient digital public sphere.

Postdigitality, understood as ubiquitous digital infrastructure, plays a central role in this context. Digitalisation is not a separate phenomenon, but rather forms the framework of our social coexistence and consequently also influences the way in which violence is exercised. In this context, postdigitality characterises the continuation of various dimensions of violence – including psychological, structural, epistemic and cultural violence – into the digital space.