New York authorities have shut down 12 websites accused of distributing sexually explicit artificial intelligence-generated images and videos of celebrities and other people.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg says the websites contained deepfake material involving about 1 200 people.
The sites used artificial intelligence to create realistic-looking videos and images that falsely portrayed people as taking part in sexual acts.
Bragg says the content was shared without the victims’ permission and is illegal under New York law.
The investigation started after a victim reported one of the websites to authorities.
Although no arrests have been announced, Bragg says the investigation is continuing and authorities are now targeting both deepfake websites and the people behind the content.
The case highlights growing concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence to create non-consensual sexual material.
The technology has made it increasingly easy to produce convincing fake images and videos, raising concerns about privacy, harassment and abuse.
The United States has also introduced tougher measures to combat the problem.
A federal law known as the Take It Down Act began being enforced in May. It requires online platforms to remove non-consensual intimate images, including sexually explicit deepfakes.
The law was signed by President Donald Trump last year and also makes the online distribution of such material a criminal offence.
New York authorities say the latest seizures are part of efforts to disrupt websites and networks that facilitate the spread of illegal deepfake content.
