The Manhattan District Attorney announced the seizure of 12 domains involved in distributing AI-generated deepfake pornography, affecting roughly 1,200 victims, predominantly women and public figures.

The targets were sites that unlawfully shared, published, and sold nonconsensual deepfake porn featuring celebrities, influencers, politicians, and other public figures, with about 1,200 victims identified.

Lawmakers are weighing in with support for measures like the bipartisan Stop Rogue AI Act to improve oversight of AI systems by tracking and securing AI agents through NIST.

Victims are urged to contact Bragg’s cybercrime bureau as investigations continue and harm persists.

The crackdown is framed within broader AI safety concerns, with industry voices calling for balancing rapid development with safety research.

Experts say the seizures show enforcement is possible amid fragmented regulation, but a comprehensive approach is needed to tackle the wider deepfake ecosystem, including creation tools and hosting and monetization channels.

No arrests were announced; offenses are classified as Class A misdemeanors in New York, with ongoing probes into the websites and others like them.

Investigations into the perpetrators and uploaders continue, with seizures carried out under New York criminal procedure laws targeting NCII.

NBC New York coverage, including reporting by Chris Glorioso, underscores the local focus on digital deception and celebrity impersonation online.

Authorities say this action is just the beginning of broader enforcement against AI deepfakes, warning those responsible for creating and running these sites.

The action followed a survivor’s complaint about images being used on one site, triggering the inquiry and seizures.

Investigations include whether elected officials’ profiles and likenesses were used without consent, with researchers noting numerous politicians depicted across Europe, the US, and the UK.