Thomas Kadri
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thomaskadri.bsky.social
Thomas Kadri
@thomaskadri.bsky.social
1.4K followers 530 following 21 posts
Assistant Prof at the University of Georgia School of Law • Working on digital speech, privacy & abuse • Legislative & Policy Director at the Clinic to End Tech Abuse at Cornell
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thomaskadri.bsky.social
My new piece with @sonjawest.bsky.social is live in the Journal of Tort Law!

Our original 50-state survey of 466 deepfake laws reveals a complex landscape in which lawmakers are experimenting with novel criminal, civil & administrative tools to address deepfakes. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
As deepfake technology becomes increasingly sophisticated and accessible, American lawmakers are responding with a flurry of urgent legislative action to address its potential harms. Our 50-state survey of proposed and enacted deepfake legislation reveals a complex regulatory landscape in which jurisdictions are adopting a range of legal approaches, including criminal punishments, civil remedies, or a combination of methods. We also find that legislators are frequently turning to tort-law frameworks to address the harms of deepfakes. This article explores the current landscape of tort-based regulations of deepfakes. In addition to providing an overview of the most recent legislative developments, we unpack and compare the various tort-law methods arising at the state and federal level. We further consider how lawmakers are modifying existing tort laws to address the unique concerns raised by deepfakes. While individualistic tort remedies allow victims of deepfakes to seek direct recourse through familiar private rights of action, our analysis also identifies practical and conceptual limitations with this approach. Traditional tort frameworks struggle to address key challenges posed by deepfakes, including anonymous creation, viral distribution at technological scale, and harms affecting both individuals and society broadly. In light of these limitations, legislators are innovatively adapting traditional tort concepts—such as standing, mental states, causation, immunities, and remedies—to address deepfakes’ unique characteristics. Yet the very need for these adaptations reveals some of tort law’s shortcomings and suggests a space for complementary regulatory approaches. We consider some potential approaches that could provide this more complete framework, like tort liability for entities that enable deepfake creation and circulation, and civil enforcement mechanisms that empower state actors to vindicate both individual and societal interests. Ultimately, our finding…
October 31, 2025 at 2:39 PM
thomaskadri.bsky.social
“Brokering Safety” is forthcoming in Calif. L. Rev.! With @chinmayisharma.bsky.social & @samadler.bsky.social, we expose privacy law's complicity in how data brokers worsen stalking & IPV, then pitch a system for victims to obscure data across all brokers in one go. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
March 11, 2025 at 2:45 PM
thomaskadri.bsky.social
Brenda Dvoskin & I just posted “Safe Sex in the Age of Big Tech Feminism.” We interrogate feminist strands animating regulations to keep people—esp. women—safe from the risks of online sexuality, then offer an alternate agenda grounded in queer & crit feminist theory. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
March 11, 2025 at 2:13 PM
thomaskadri.bsky.social
Finally, one goal of publishing these open-access books for free is to do my small part to make legal education more affordable, accessible & adaptable.

In that spirit, since I don’t have a publisher to amplify this work, please help me spread the word by sharing widely!
April 10, 2024 at 8:37 PM
thomaskadri.bsky.social
Please let me know if you have reactions or use the materials in some way. I’m happy to keep you posted about new editions, share more adaptable versions, or just chat about these projects or the issues they raise.
April 10, 2024 at 8:36 PM
thomaskadri.bsky.social
And though the primary goal was pedagogical, I’d like to think that engaging with these materials can be generative for scholarship, too. (It certainly has been for me, as the Epilogue on Imagery & Tech included in both books reveals.)
April 10, 2024 at 8:36 PM
thomaskadri.bsky.social
I created the books to pair with my courses at UGA Law (Digital Abuse & Cybercrime, if you’d like to check out syllabi on my website—https://thomaskadri.com). But I hope they’re also appealing to folks teaching Internet Law, Privacy Law & related classes beyond law schools.
April 10, 2024 at 8:35 PM
thomaskadri.bsky.social
The books are also filled with AI-generated images made with @midjourney.bsky.social that bring each dilemma/scenario to life. These posts provide a glimpse of my adventures with this technology!
April 10, 2024 at 8:34 PM
thomaskadri.bsky.social
The materials touch privacy, NCII, free speech, stalking, IPV, harassment, cybersecurity, civil rights, consumer protection & much more. While they often focus on crim/tort law, there’s space to discuss other relevant legal/non-legal interventions.
April 10, 2024 at 8:33 PM
thomaskadri.bsky.social
Dilemmas in Digital Abuse is published under my name; Cybercrime Scenarios is co-authored with Samuel Won.

Both are open-access materials that you may use/assign/adapt for free under a @creativecommons.bsky.social license!

Or buy paperbacks on Lulu: lulu.com/search?contr...
April 10, 2024 at 8:33 PM
thomaskadri.bsky.social
Delighted to release two new books into the world!

*Dilemmas in Digital Abuse* & *Cybercrime Scenarios* feature lots of “dilemmas” & “scenarios” exploring law/tech issues.

Download for free on my website, where you’ll also find links for ~$14 paperbacks: thomaskadri.com/research/sch...
April 10, 2024 at 8:32 PM