New York prosecutors seized 12 deepfake porn websites after identifying about 1,200 victims, marking the largest action of its kind to date.
Story Snapshot
- Manhattan prosecutors seized 12 domains tied to non-consensual deepfake pornography.
- Roughly 1,200 people, many women in public life, were targeted across the sites.
- New York’s intimate-image law covers AI-altered content, enabling seizures.
- Officials say this shows how current laws can fight online abuse at scale.
Manhattan Prosecutors Seize 12 Deepfake Porn Websites
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced that his office seized the domain names of 12 websites that allegedly sold and spread non-consensual, sexually explicit deepfake images of celebrities and other public figures. The office said investigators identified about 1,200 people targeted across the network, and a court authorized the domain seizures. The action blocks access to the sites through their addresses and signals that New York will use current laws to push back on paid exploitation online.
Officials described the operation as the largest focused seizure to date against AI-driven deepfake pornography. Reports state the victims included actresses, athletes, influencers, and politicians who did not consent to the use of their faces or bodies in sexual content. The District Attorney’s Office used court-ordered tools that allow authorities to take control of domains used to commit crimes. The office said the goal is to stop distribution, preserve evidence, and protect victims from further harm.
New York’s Law Applies To AI-Altered Intimate Images
New York Penal Law section 245.15 makes it a crime to unlawfully disseminate or publish intimate images without consent, and it applies to images created or altered with digital tools like artificial intelligence. Legal guidance explains that state updates treat AI-generated intimate images like real non-consensual photos for enforcement purposes. This legal base helps prosecutors act even when no real photo was taken. It centers on consent, intent to cause harm, and distribution of sexual content involving an identifiable person.
Policy resources say the 2023 changes to New York’s intimate-image statute closed a key gap by covering computer-altered content, not only images captured from real events. That change gave prosecutors a clearer path to target websites that sell or host sexual deepfakes. The law also allows victims to seek remedies through the criminal process. The District Attorney’s use of domain seizures shows how older tools can be paired with updated statutes to curb fast-moving online abuse.
Scale Of Harm And Why It Matters To Families
The reported number of targeted people underscores the scale of harm caused by synthetic content that looks real to casual viewers. Celebrities and public figures face large audiences, but families and kids also see the fallout when fake sexual content spreads at high speed. This issue cuts across politics because it strikes at privacy, dignity, and the right to one’s own image. Conservatives who value family life and personal responsibility see deepfakes as an attack on those core values.
Parents want a safe culture for their children. Faith, family, and hard work do not thrive when predatory sites turn people into fake sexual objects for clicks and cash. Prosecutors citing clear laws and court orders help restore order online. Limited, targeted enforcement respects free speech while shutting down illegal exploitation. That balance aligns with constitutional principles when the state punishes crime, not opinion. The Manhattan seizure is one such example backed by statute and judicial approval.
How Domain Seizures Fit Into A Broader Strategy
Domain seizures are one tool, not a cure-all. They disrupt access, freeze branding, and send a deterrent message to copycats. They also preserve data for follow-up action. Prosecutors said this effort builds on a pattern seen with prior non-consensual image cases, where fast action can stop further harm while the law catches up to new tech. New York’s framework shows states can act decisively without waiting for lengthy new bills or far-off court rulings.
Legal commentators note that the path forward will involve continued use of intimate-image statutes and court-backed seizures, plus education for victims on fast reporting and takedown options. For conservatives, this is a reminder that law and order still matters online. When government narrows its focus to actual crimes and respects due process, it protects liberty. When bad actors use machines to abuse people, targeted enforcement under clear law is a proper, constitutional response.
Sources:
insiderpaper.com, manhattanda.org, today.rtl.lu, hoodline.com, facebook.com
