The U.S. Department of Justice Seizes Websites Hosting Nonconsensual AI-Generated Nude Content

In a groundbreaking move, the U.S. Department of Justice has seized the CFAKE.com and SOCFAKE.com websites, which were allegedly hosting nonconsensual AI-generated nude images and videos of women. This marks the first publicly announced domain seizure under the TAKE IT DOWN Act.

The seized sites were found to share sexually explicit deepfake images depicting politicians, celebrities, athletes, musicians, and even royalty from various countries. The digital forgeries were designed to appear as sexual images of famous women across different fields, as stated in the DOJ announcement.

Deepfakes, AI-generated or manipulated media, depict individuals in ways that never occurred. They are commonly used for creating nonconsensual nude content, impersonation scams, phishing attacks, and cryptocurrency fraud.

The DOJ and Homeland Security Investigations seized the CFAKE.com and SOCFAKE.com domains after a federal judge determined probable cause of their violation of the TAKE IT DOWN Act. The seized sites now display a notice stating the reason for their takedown.

The investigation into these websites began following alerts from Italy’s Postal and Cybersecurity Police. Italian authorities initiated inquiries after receiving complaints about AI-generated sexually explicit images of women in various fields.

French prosecutors and investigators took part in the operation, leading to the arrest of a suspect in France and the seizure of related cryptocurrency. This international effort highlights the collaborative nature of combating online exploitation.

The TAKE IT DOWN Act and Its Impact

The bipartisan TAKE IT DOWN Act, signed into law in May 2025, aims to combat the dissemination of nonconsensual imagery, including deepfake pornography. The legislation criminalizes the publication of sexually explicit altered images without consent and mandates prompt removal of reported deepfakes by online platforms.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the significance of these domain seizures in the fight against deepfake pornography. The law, championed by First Lady Melania Trump, provides essential tools to combat the exploitation of women and children through fabricated images.

Notably, the TAKE IT DOWN Act was previously used in a case involving an Ohio man creating AI-generated sexually explicit images. However, the seizure of CFAKE.com and SOCFAKE.com represents the first public use of the law against websites distributing deepfake pornography.

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