Biodigitalization and Semiotic Manipulation: Legal Implications of Synthetic Identities in Online Abuse, Springer Nature

This chapter analyzes the phenomenon of biodigitalization, defined as the creation of hyper-realistic synthetic human identities, and its implications for online abuse. From a semiotic perspective, biodigitals function as signs capable of manipulation: their realism and ambiguity blur the boundary between authenticity and simulation, destabilizing established categories of identity, authorship, and responsibility. The chapter highlights three dimensions of harm: identity manipulation, where synthetic doubles impersonate or defame individuals; visual harassment, in which hyper-realistic images inflict psychological distress; and symbolic abuse, where cultural codes are exploited to distort meaning and damage reputations. Drawing on expert interviews and a semiotic analysis of biodigital influencers, the study demonstrates the communicative power of these entities and the vulnerabilities they create. Legally, findings reveal fragmented and reactive frameworks: evidentiary processes, privacy protections, and accountability mechanisms remain inadequate when confronted with ontologically unstable identities. Courts and regulators face mounting challenges in addressing abuses that are not only technical but also symbolic in nature. The chapter concludes by advocating anticipatory governance that integrates law, technology, and semiotics. Such interdisciplinary strategies are necessary to regulate biodigital entities, safeguard digital personhood, and mitigate the ethical, social, and legal risks of synthetic identity in online environments.