New York seizes 12 websites tied to celebrity deepfake porn

In short: New York prosecutors say they have seized 12 website addresses used to share and sell nonconsensual deepfake sex videos.

What happened

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said it seized 12 internet domains, which are the website addresses people type into a browser. Officials say the sites were used to unlawfully share, publish, and sell explicit deepfake videos of celebrities and other public figures.

A deepfake is a fake video made with AI that can make it look like someone did something they did not do (like pasting a person’s face onto another body). Prosecutors say around 1,200 people, mostly women, were depicted on these sites without consent. The victims included influencers, actors, activists, athletes, musicians, and politicians.

The office did not publicly name the websites. WIRED reported it saw some of the sites showing a seizure notice that said the domain had been taken over after a warrant issued by a New York State Supreme Court.

District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the content can follow victims into their careers and personal lives, and harm their mental well-being. The office said its investigation is ongoing, including who ran the sites and who uploaded videos.

Why it matters

For regular people, this is a sign that law enforcement is starting to treat nonconsensual deepfake sexual imagery as a serious online abuse problem, not just “internet drama.” Taking over the domain is like changing the locks on a storefront, it can stop many viewers from reaching the content, even if copies still exist elsewhere. Researchers told WIRED that lasting progress will likely require action not only against websites, but also against the tools and payment systems that help this content spread.

Source: Wired