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The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office seized the domains of 12 websites accused of creating and hosting sexually explicit, nonconsensual AI deepfakes of real people. The platforms allegedly enabled users to fabricate pornography using victims’ faces and bodies and collectively hosted material involving more than 1,200 people, including celebrities, politicians, other public figures, and survivors of domestic abuse.
District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the investigation remains ongoing and that prosecutors will watch for efforts to reconstitute the services on replacement domains. The seizure, described as among the largest legal actions against explicit-deepfake sites, targets a form of sexual exploitation that can damage victims’ personal and professional lives and be used to threaten victims with distribution of fabricated imagery.
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The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office seized 12 websites or domains allegedly hosting non-consensual, sexually explicit AI deepfakes involving more than 1,200 people. At a Monday press conference, District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the investigation was ongoing and that the office would monitor for attempts to restore the platforms under new domains.
The European Commission announced an inquiry into X after its Grok AI tool was used to create sexual images of a minor.
Microsoft filed a lawsuit against six developers alleged to have used Azure OpenAI services to create non-consensual intimate images of celebrities and other sexually explicit content.
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U.S. authorities seized the domains **CFAKE.com** and **SOCFAKE.com**, alleging the sites published thousands of non-consensual sexually explicit deepfake images and videos of women, including celebrities, politicians, journalists, athletes, and royalty. The action was carried out by the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security under the **TAKE IT DOWN Act**, a 2025 law that criminalizes unauthorized publication of sexually explicit digital forgeries. Officials said the platforms hosted abusive content categories such as “rape,” “forced,” and “degradation,” and described the operation as a major effort to stop psychologically harmful exploitation of victims. The takedown followed a multinational investigation that began after Italy’s **Polizia di Stato** alerted U.S. authorities and expanded through evidence sharing with France under the **Budapest Convention on Cybercrime**. In a parallel French case, police in Nice arrested a 47-year-old French national accused of serving as a CFAKE administrator and seized site-related computer equipment along with more than **$48,000 in Ethereum**. French investigators linked the platform to roughly **300,000 images**, **7,000 videos**, **14,000 depicted individuals**, about **200,000 user accounts**, and nearly **4 million monthly views**, underscoring the scale of the alleged abuse network.
Jun 29, 2026
The Federal Trade Commission said it will begin enforcing a key provision of the Take It Down Act on May 19, requiring covered websites and online services to remove reported nonconsensual intimate imagery and AI-generated deepfake content within 48 hours. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson notified major platforms including Meta, Google, and X that failures to comply can trigger investigations and civil penalties of up to **$53,088 per violation**, and said companies must publish clear removal policies and provide accessible reporting channels, including for people who do not have accounts. The requirement applies broadly across websites, apps, social media, image and video sharing services, and gaming platforms. The FTC also urged companies to use hashing technologies and coordinate with groups such as the **National Center for Missing and Exploited Children** and **StopNCII.org** to prevent removed material from being reuploaded. Supporters said the enforcement regime gives the law real consequences for noncompliance, while civil liberties and policy experts warned the short deadline and steep fines could lead platforms to over-remove legitimate content or create openings for bad-faith complaints.
Jun 29, 2026
San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu sent cease-and-desist letters to Apple and Google demanding the removal of 13 apps accused of generating nonconsensual nude or explicit deepfake images. The action targets eight apps on Apple’s App Store and five on Google Play, alleging the companies are unlawfully facilitating deepfake pornography under California law by hosting the apps and collecting fees from downloads or in-app purchases tied to the services. Google said it had already removed the five named Play Store apps, deleted hundreds of similar apps for policy violations, and restricted related search terms. Apple did not comment before publication, though reports noted the company recently tightened App Store rules that place greater responsibility on developers for pornographic content. The dispute highlights growing concern over commercial AI “nudify” tools, including apps, websites, and bots used to create sexualized images of women, girls, and minors without consent.
Jul 21, 2026