The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the seizure of two websites used to create thousands of sexual and nude artificial intelligence (AI) deepfakes, in a joint effort with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
DOJ & DHS Successfully Seize Deepfake Sites Through TAKE IT Down Act
According to a DOJ press release, CFAKE.com and SOCFAKE.com were being used to publish thousands of nonconsensual deepfake images and videos “depicting famous women as nude and sometimes engaged in sexual activity.”
“These domain seizures mark a significant victory in the fight against deepfake pornography,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said. “The TAKE IT DOWN Act, championed by First Lady Melania Trump, gives us the tools we need to combat the abuse and exploitation of women and children through these fabricated images."
“The Department of Justice will vigorously enforce this law and deliver justice for victims,” Blanche asserted.
TAKE IT DOWN Act
The Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act (TAKE IT DOWN) Act – a bill cosponsored by Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) in the House of Representatives – helps the DOJ combat the distribution of non-consensual AI-generated deepfake pornography and intimate images by establishing such acts as federal crimes.
The law also requires domains to remove the material within 48 hours of notification or face removal from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
European Authorities Help With the Seizure
The websites were notified to U.S. law enforcement by Italy’s Polizia di Stato -Postal and Cybersecurity Police.
Following an investigation and a buildup of evidence, the DOJ applied for a federal warrant to seize the websites.
A federal judge granted the warrants, finding probable cause that the websites “were made to appear” to contain “sexual images of famous women, including politicians, first ladies of multiple countries, royalty, journalists, television presenters, athletes, entertainers, and others.”
Within the website, users were able to browse through tags including “rape,” “forced,” and “degradation.”
The DOJ also worked with French authorities to help investigate and arrest the perpetrators.
“Through sophisticated cyber investigative work and close coordination with our domestic and international law enforcement partners, including authorities in France, this Office played a key role in disrupting the infrastructure that enabled this conduct. Those who use the internet to exploit others should not mistake online anonymity for immunity,” U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey stated.
