DOJ Seizes CFAKE and SOCFAKE Deepfake Nude Sites Under TAKE IT DOWN Act
Summary
The DOJ seized cfake[.]com and socfake[.]com after a court found probable cause they were used to distribute nonconsensual AI-generated intimate images. A coordinated U.S., Italian and French operation led to an arrest in Nice and a cryptocurrency seizure.
Key points
- The DOJ and Homeland Security Investigations seized CFAKE.com and SOCFAKE.com under warrants; a court found probable cause the sites were used to violate the TAKE IT DOWN Act.
- The seizure appears to be the first publicly announced use of the act to target sites allegedly distributing deepfake pornography.
- The sites allegedly hosted nonconsensual AI-generated sexual images depicting politicians, celebrities, athletes and other public figures.
- The investigation involved U.S., Italian and French authorities; Italian police alerted U.S. authorities, and Italy later blocked access to the sites.
- French authorities arrested a suspect in Nice and seized cryptocurrency allegedly connected to the operation.
- The act makes publishing nonconsensual intimate imagery and digital forgeries depicting identifiable people a federal crime, and requires platforms to remove reported material within 48 hours of a valid request.
Article Details
- Event Type
- U.S. Department of Justice and Homeland Security Investigations domain seizure in an international law-enforcement operation targeting websites allegedly used to distribute nonconsensual AI-generated intimate imagery. The seizure appears to be the first publicly announced under the TAKE IT DOWN Act.
- Impact
- CFAKE.com and SOCFAKE.com were seized and taken offline. French authorities arrested a suspect in Nice and seized cryptocurrency allegedly connected to the operation. The sites allegedly hosted sexually explicit AI-generated images and videos depicting women, including politicians, celebrities, athletes, and royalty.
Indicators of compromise
| Type | Indicator | Context |
|---|---|---|
| DOMAIN | cfake[.]com | Domain allegedly used to host and distribute nonconsensual AI-generated nude images and videos; seized by U.S. authorities. |
| DOMAIN | socfake[.]com | Domain allegedly used to host and distribute nonconsensual AI-generated nude images and videos; seized by U.S. authorities. |
People
Countries
FranceThe case involved coordinated action by U.S., Italian, and French authorities, and led to an arrest in Nice, France, along with the seizure of cryptocurrency tied to the operation.ItalyThe domains now display a seizure notice stating they were taken offline pursuant to a seizure warrant as part of an operation involving the US, Italy, and France.United StatesThe case involved coordinated action by U.S., Italian, and French authorities, and led to an arrest in Nice, France, along with the seizure of cryptocurrency tied to the operation.