Sarah Jones* was settling in for another quiet evening in her small apartment in Sulphur City, West Virginia. As she scrolled through the news, an article about deepfakes and their potential use in elections caught her eye. At first, she felt only mild concern, but as she read on, her heartbeat quickened and a cold sweat broke out.

The story triggered memories of her own experience a few years prior - a relentless online stalker who had doctored explicit images of her and spread them across the internet. The trauma had left her anxious, withdrawn, and struggling with depression. She had thought she'd moved past it, but this news dredged everything back up.

Desperate for a way to process her resurfacing trauma, Sarah discovered the Stepping Into Action online program. Through its guided activities and community support, she began rebuilding her sense of safety and self-worth. 'The deepfake threat is real,' Sarah reflected grimly, 'but I can't let it rule my life again.'

'We have to be proactive about regulating this technology,' cautioned cybersecurity expert Jen Easterly in the article. However, some free speech advocates argued, 'You can't legislate against AI - it will just drive it underground and make it harder to combat misinformation.'

Amidst the conflicting perspectives, Sarah reminded herself of a quote that resonated deeply: 'The wound is the place where the Light enters you.' Getting help had been daunting, but worthwhile. While the specter of deepfakes still loomed, she felt stronger and more empowered to face her fears.

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