Kandasamy novel explores deepfakes and digital identity

A new novel by Kandasamy explores the intersection of technology, gender, and social power through the story of Amrita Chaturvedi, also known as Amy. The narrative begins when Amy discovers a deepfake pornographic video of herself online, illustrating how technological violations exploit existing social prejudices.

The protagonist is depicted as a complex Marxist-feminist activist from a privileged Brahmin background, avoiding the trope of the morally perfect victim. The book examines how Amy’s identity is fragmented into digital content by an ecosystem of trolls and political actors, turning her body into a battlefield for ideological conflicts involving caste, class, sexuality, and religion. The story also critiques the cruelty found within progressive and liberal social media spaces.