A dozen website domains that unlawfully shared and sold sexually explicit “deepfake videos” of celebrities, athletes, and politicians have been shut down and seized by Manhattan prosecutors. This is noted to be the largest seizure related to AI-generated illegal pornography, targeting sites that victimized nearly 1,200 individuals, predominantly women, by using their likenesses in nonconsensual images and videos.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg emphasized the significant emotional and mental toll these violations take on victims and stated that the office does not tolerate sexual exploitation in any form. While no arrests were made, these crimes are classified as Class A misdemeanors.
Bragg highlighted the investigation’s ongoing nature and encouraged potential victims to report to the cybercrime bureau, stressing the challenges faced by many individuals who suffer from such violations, especially those not in the public eye. The seized sites now display a stern warning about their seizure following a court order.
