{
  "id": 7367511,
  "title": "New York Seizes 12 Celebrity Deepfake Websites",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/new-york-seizes-12-celebrity-deepfake-websites",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-14T17:26:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "404 Media",
    "slug": "404-media",
    "url": "https://www.404media.co/new-york-district-attorney-seizes-12-celebrity-deepfake-websites/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Monday, the New York District Attorney announced the seizure of 12 websites that host AI-generated non-consensual intimate imagery, primarily featuring celebrities and public figures. The district attorney's office claims this to be the largest seizure of such sites in history. The individuals utilizing and operating these sites are currently under investigation. AI tools were used to generate approximately 1,200 hyper-realistic images and videos of these individuals in sexual conduct, according to the DA's office. The images allegedly depict various public-facing individuals, including politicians, first ladies from multiple countries, and other prominent public figures such as actors, athletes, musicians, social justice advocates, and social media influencers. New York has had laws specifically targeting sexually explicit deepfakes since 2023. District Attorney Alvin Bragg emphasized that the victims of these sites are not limited to celebrities, as anyone can be a victim, especially in domestic violence cases. Bragg stated that individuals experiencing such crimes can reach out to the New York Cyber Crime Bureau for assistance. Bragg did not confirm whether minors were involved in these websites, stating that the investigation is still ongoing. In June, the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security seized two domains that published thousands of digitally forged images and videos of famous women in nude and sexual activities without their consent. In May 2025, the deepfakes hosting site MrDeepfakes.com was shut down after an investigation by CBC, Der Spiegel, and Bellingcat. Earlier this month, the first man in the country to be convicted under the Take It Down Act received a 15-year prison sentence for possessing over 3,000 real and AI-generated abuse images. Slightly altered images of public figures are currently circulating on social media platforms like X.com, as reported by 404 Media. These images often depict women in more revealing clothing or with digitally altered bodies than their original photos or videos. The DA's office is urging deepfake victims to contact its Cyber Crime Bureau at (212) 335-9600 and is warning creators and publishers of such content that what they are doing is a crime and they are being investigated.",
  "summary": "New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a press conference on Monday that the sites included 1,200 people’s likenesses in “hyper-realistic” sexual imagery.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Wired",
        "title": "New York Seizes a Dozen Celebrity Deepfake Websites",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/new-york-seizes-a-dozen-celebrity-deepfake-websites",
        "published": "2026-09-14T16:50:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}