WASHINGTON — Federal authorities have seized two web sites accused of publishing 1000’s of nonconsensual AI-generated nude photos and movies of girls, marking what officers referred to as the primary main enforcement motion below the federal TAKE IT DOWN Act.
The U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Safety introduced Friday that authorities seized the domains CFAKE.com and SOCFAKE.com after acquiring warrants alleging the websites had been getting used to distribute sexually specific digital forgeries depicting identifiable ladies with out their consent.
In response to the Justice Division, the web sites hosted 1000’s of AI-generated photos and movies portraying ladies as nude or engaged in sexual exercise with out their consent.
“These area seizures mark a big victory within the battle towards deepfake pornography,” Performing Legal professional Basic Todd Blanche mentioned. “The TAKE IT DOWN Act, championed by First Girl Melania Trump, provides us the instruments we have to fight the abuse and exploitation of girls and youngsters via these fabricated photos.”
The TAKE IT DOWN Act, signed into regulation in Might 2025, makes it a federal crime to publish sexually specific digital forgeries of identifiable adults with out their consent when the content material is just not a matter of public concern and is meant to trigger hurt or does trigger hurt.
Federal officers mentioned a choose authorized the seizure warrants after discovering possible trigger that the web sites had been violating the regulation.
Homeland Safety Secretary Markwayne Mullin referred to as the motion “an enormous win towards deepfake pornography” and mentioned it will be the primary of many enforcement efforts below the statute.
Authorities mentioned the investigation started after Italy’s Postal and Cybersecurity Police alerted U.S. regulation enforcement to the web sites. American investigators then labored with French authorities via worldwide cybercrime cooperation agreements.
The investigation led to the June 10 arrest of a suspect in Good, France, on French prison fees. French authorities additionally seized cryptocurrency through the operation, in accordance with the Justice Division.
Assistant Legal professional Basic A. Tysen Duva mentioned taking down the web sites halted the publication of sexually specific digital forgeries that harmed the ladies depicted.
“These seizures stopped an internet site that trafficked in humiliation, exploitation, and the violation of private privateness on an enormous scale,” U.S. Legal professional Robert Frazer of New Jersey mentioned.
The case was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Safety Investigations workplace in New Jersey, with help from U.S., French, and Italian authorities.
The seized web sites now show a federal discover informing guests that the domains have been taken over by regulation enforcement pursuant to a court docket order.
