Manhattan DA seizes domains of 12 sites selling AI-generated celebrity deepfakes

According to District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office, the people under investigation allegedly used AI image and video tools to turn existing photos and footage of real people into realistic sexual content and sold it through the sites. The office said those depicted were overwhelmingly women and mostly public figures, among them actors, politicians, athletes, musicians and social media influencers. Neither the websites nor the people depicted were named.

The domains were seized under a court order, and the office's Cyber Crime Bureau is handling the case. No charges were announced. The investigation is continuing, and the office said it will watch for the sites reappearing under other domains. Gothamist reported that the inquiry began after one person came forward to say images of her were on one of the sites, and that Bragg declined to say whether charges would follow while acknowledging that many similar sites remain online.

Gothamist reported that unlawful dissemination or publication of intimate images is a misdemeanor in New York, punishable by up to a year in jail. The office asked other victims to contact the bureau.