AI Deepfake Porn: Why Anyone Can Be a Victim and How to Protect Yourself
As artificial intelligence technology becomes more advanced and accessible, the risk of deepfake porn—the nonconsensual creation and sharing of explicit, digitally manipulated images and videos—is escalating. Unlike revenge porn, which traditionally involves real intimate photos shared without consent, AI deepfake technology allows anyone with access to basic AI tools to generate fake explicit content by superimposing someone’s face onto a nude or compromising image. Lawyer Carrie Goldberg, a legal advocate for victims of digital harassment and sexual privacy violations, summarizes this unsettling reality: “All we have to have is just a human form to be a victim.”
High-profile women like Taylor Swift and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, along with everyday individuals—including teenagers—have been subject to this form of harassment. The implications are profound. With AI tools becoming widely available and easier to use, anyone with an online presence is vulnerable, whether or not they’ve ever taken or shared intimate photos. For those who discover they or their loved ones are featured in such images, the experience can be overwhelming. “Especially if they’re young and they don’t know how to cope,” Goldberg said, alluding to the daunting challenge of navigating a largely unregulated internet to remove damaging content.
Understanding Deepfake Porn and Its Growing Threat
Deepfake porn, created using sophisticated AI algorithms, essentially uses face-swapping techniques to place a person’s likeness onto explicit material. Unlike traditional photoshopping, which can often be recognized upon close inspection, AI-generated deepfakes can appear highly realistic. These images or videos can be created without the victim’s knowledge or consent and may then circulate on social media, adult websites, or message boards, where they are difficult to track down or remove.
The fact that deepfake technology can be used to harass and humiliate anyone raises complex legal, social, and psychological questions. Victims experience emotional distress, damage to personal and professional reputations, and a potential erosion of trust in digital environments. Public figures and influencers are frequently targeted, as they are highly visible online, but private individuals are increasingly falling victim to this form of digital exploitation.
Immediate Steps to Take if You’re a Victim
Goldberg offers essential advice for individuals who find themselves victimized by AI-generated explicit content. Although a victim’s instinct might be to remove the content from the internet as quickly as possible, Goldberg advises taking a screenshot first to preserve evidence. “The knee-jerk reaction is to get this off the internet as soon as possible,” she explains, “but if you want to be able to have the option of reporting it criminally, you need the evidence.” Screenshots serve as proof of the content’s existence, which can be crucial if victims later seek legal recourse.
Several platforms, including Google, Meta, and Snapchat, offer forms to help users request the removal of explicit images. Additionally, nonprofit organizations such as StopNCII.org and Take It Down specialize in facilitating the rapid removal of nonconsensual images across multiple platforms. Although these organizations are effective advocates for victims, cooperation from platforms varies, with some smaller or lesser-known sites less responsive to takedown requests. A bipartisan group of senators recently urged tech companies like X (formerly Twitter) and Discord to join these initiatives, signaling growing political pressure for a more unified approach.
Legal and Legislative Efforts to Combat Deepfake Porn
In Washington, a rare bipartisan alliance is forming to address the urgent issue of deepfake porn. Following emotional testimony from teens and parents affected by nonconsensual AI-generated porn, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz introduced legislation with backing from Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar and others. This proposed bill would make it a federal crime to distribute nonconsensual explicit deepfake images, and it would mandate that social media companies promptly remove these images upon receiving notification from victims.
Despite these developments, legal protections against deepfake porn remain inconsistent. In many states, there are no laws against creating or distributing explicit deepfakes of adults, leaving numerous victims without options for legal action. Laws around AI-generated images of minors are more stringent, as such images generally fall under child sexual abuse material (CSAM) legislation, but for adults, the landscape is far more fragmented. In states without specific laws prohibiting the distribution of nonconsensual deepfakes, victims may be unable to take meaningful action against those who create or share such content.
The Need for Proactive Digital Citizenship
Goldberg emphasizes that while the growing legal support is vital, there is also a moral and ethical responsibility on the part of those who use AI technology. She stresses that preventing nonconsensual deepfake porn ultimately depends on individuals behaving responsibly. “There’s not much that victims can do to prevent this,” she admits. “We can never be fully safe in a digital society, but it’s up to each other not to be total a**holes.” This is a sobering reminder that technology’s power must be wielded ethically; AI’s potential for misuse is enormous, but so is its potential for good.
How Society and Platforms Can Support Victims
The proliferation of deepfake porn highlights a need for robust societal support systems and stricter platform policies. As Goldberg points out, victims are often young and vulnerable, and the internet can feel like a “big, huge, nebulous place” where tracking and taking down harmful content is daunting. Organizations dedicated to online safety and harassment prevention, such as the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI), play a crucial role in supporting victims and advocating for policy change. These organizations offer resources to help individuals navigate the complex and sometimes hostile digital world, providing information on how to document, report, and remove harmful content.
Technology platforms also have a role to play in preventing the spread of deepfake porn. By implementing robust content moderation policies, social media companies can help limit the reach of nonconsensual explicit material. Machine learning algorithms, similar to those used to detect hate speech or misinformation, could be adapted to identify and flag deepfake content. As the political and social pressure on these companies grows, the hope is that they will prioritize victim protection over unrestricted content sharing.
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A Call for Ethical AI Use and Legal Protection
As AI technology continues to evolve, it is crucial for society to address the ethical and legal challenges it poses. For individuals, understanding their rights and having a plan of action can mitigate some of the harms associated with deepfake porn. By documenting evidence, seeking help from nonprofit organizations, and advocating for legislative change, victims can assert control in an otherwise overwhelming situation.
On a broader level, society must establish ethical norms around AI use, and tech companies must recognize their responsibility in this landscape. The potential of AI is vast, but it’s crucial that these technologies are harnessed in a way that respects privacy and human dignity. Goldberg’s advice to would-be perpetrators of deepfake porn—to respect others’ privacy—echoes a call for responsible AI use. If used ethically, AI can empower and benefit society; if misused, it can harm individuals in profound ways.
As awareness grows and legal protections strengthen, there is hope that AI-driven harassment will be curtailed. But until deepfake porn is fully addressed by technology companies, policymakers, and society at large, anyone with an online presence must remain vigilant, proactive, and ready to seek out resources to protect themselves from this invasive new threat.