{ "meta": { "exportedAt": "2026-09-22T13:55:46.713Z", "formatVersion": 2, "selection": { "q": "non-consensual-imagery", "system": "", "harm": "", "context": "", "country": "", "role": "", "relation": "", "evidence": "", "year": "", "response": "regulatory", "severity": "", "verification": "", "view": "incidents", "sort": "added" }, "totalIncidents": 2, "coverage": { "cases": 2, "countries": 2, "languages": 2, "unknownLocation": 0, "locationPending": 0, "unknownLanguage": 0, "unknownDate": 1, "lawsuits": 0, "regulatory": 2, "minors": 0, "coreRelations": 2, "contextualRelations": 0, "mixedRelations": 0, "unknownRelations": 0, "relationPending": 0, "relationUnknown": 0 }, "countingNote": "Distinct public cases in this selection. People counts apply within individual cases only; cross-case person overlap has not been resolved. No population incidence estimate.", "affectedCountNote": "Interpret person counts with affectedCountStatus and the reported effects. Unquantified zeros are placeholders, not a measured zero.", "source": "NOPE Incident Tracker", "url": "https://nope.net/incidents", "license": "CC BY 4.0" }, "incidents": [ { "id": "2026-varanasi-chaubepur-ai-deepfake-images-wedding-sabotage", "caseFacts": { "claims": [ { "id": "c1", "status": "reported", "evidence": [ { "locator": "'एक युवती का आरोप है कि अज्ञात व्यक्ति ने एआई की मदद से उसकी आपत्तिजनक डीपफेक तस्वीरें तैयार कीं और उन्हें उसके होने वाले ससुराल वालों के इंस्टाग्राम अकाउंट पर भेज दिया'; 'एक अज्ञात मोबाइल नंबर से उसे लगातार फोन कर परेशान किया जा रहा था'; 'आरोपी ने इंस्टाग्राम पर उसके नाम से मिलता-जुलता एक फर्जी प्रोफाइल बनाया'; 'आरोपी ने एआई टूल की मदद से उसका चेहरा किसी अन्य युवक की तस्वीर पर लगाकर आपत्तिजनक तस्वीरें तैयार कीं'", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s1" } ], "assertion": "The complainant alleges that an unknown person who harassed her with repeated calls created a fake Instagram profile resembling her name, used an AI tool to place her face on another young man's photograph to make objectionable images, and sent them to her prospective in-laws' and prospective brother-in-law's Instagram accounts to break off her marriage.", "causal_attribution": "Complainant's allegation as reported; under police investigation." }, { "id": "c2", "status": "reported", "evidence": [ { "locator": "'चौबेपुर पुलिस ने जनसुनवाई संदर्भ संख्या 1621/26 के आधार पर अज्ञात के खिलाफ मामला दर्ज किया है'; 'साइबर विशेषज्ञों की मदद से आरोपी की पहचान और लोकेशन से संबंधित तकनीकी साक्ष्य जुटाने का प्रयास किया जा रहा है'; 'जांच में आरोपी की भूमिका स्पष्ट होने के बाद नियमानुसार कार्रवाई की जाएगी'", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s1" } ], "assertion": "Chaubepur police registered a case against unknown persons on public-hearing reference 1621/26; the station in-charge said digital details of the number and the fake account were being gathered with cyber experts to identify and locate the accused, with action to follow.", "causal_attribution": "Police statement as reported." } ], "effects": [ { "label": "AI-made objectionable images of the complainant were sent to her prospective in-laws to break off her marriage, after repeated harassing calls", "claim_id": "c1", "direction": "negative" } ], "sources": [ { "id": "s1", "url": "https://www.bhaskar.com/local/uttar-pradesh/varanasi/chiraigaon/news/varanasi-deepfake-case-girl-wedding-sabotage-chaubepur-ai-police-probe-139078997.html", "kind": "news_report", "access": "read", "language": "hi", "translation_note": "Read live in Hindi on 2026-09-20 (HTTP 200). Local report of the complaint with the station in-charge quoted; quotations translated by the reviewer.", "independence_group": "dainik-bhaskar-varanasi-2026-09-19" } ], "version": 1, "ai_roles": [ "others_use" ], "contexts": [ "relationships", "everyday_life", "privacy" ], "unknowns": [ "The dates of the calls, the images and the complaint are not stated.", "The AI tool and the number of images are not stated.", "No arrest is reported and the accused is unidentified.", "Whether the marriage arrangement was affected is not reported." ], "geography": { "basis": "Chaubepur police-station area, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (Dainik Bhaskar). No court proceeding.", "court_countries": [], "event_countries": [ "IN" ], "affected_person_countries": [ "IN" ] }, "publication": { "basis": "Published under the 2026-09-15 charter as a harmful-artifact case affecting one identified (unnamed) woman, with a registered police case. One Hindi local report read; claims recorded as reported and attributed to the complaint and the station in-charge. No names; no image description beyond 'objectionable'.", "reviewed_on": "2026-09-20" }, "ai_involvement": { "basis": "The complainant alleges that the accused used an AI tool to place her face on another man's photograph to create objectionable images (Dainik Bhaskar, reporting her complaint); police have registered a case and are investigating. No police or technical confirmation of the AI element is reported and the tool is unnamed.", "status": "reported" }, "person_relations": [ "depicted_or_impersonated" ] }, "name": "Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: a young woman reported that an unknown person made AI deepfake images placing her face on another man's photo and sent them to her future in-laws' Instagram accounts to break off her marriage; police registered a case against unknown persons", "summary": "Dainik Bhaskar reported on 19 September 2026 that a young woman in the Chaubepur police-station area of Varanasi complained that an unknown person, who had been calling her repeatedly from an unknown number, created a fake Instagram profile resembling her name, used an AI tool to place her face on another young man's photograph to produce objectionable images, and sent them to the Instagram accounts of her prospective in-laws and her prospective brother-in-law with the aim of breaking off her prospective marriage. Chaubepur police registered a case against unknown persons on the basis of a public-hearing reference (1621/26); the station in-charge said digital information about the phone number and the fake account was being gathered with cyber experts to identify and locate the accused, and that action would follow once the accused's role was clear. The report is a single local account of the complaint; the dates of the images and the complaint are not stated.", "incidentKind": "single_event", "incidentDatePrecision": "unknown", "exposurePattern": "single_interaction", "reportedDate": "2026-09-19", "aiSystem": "AI face-swap or image-editing tool (not identified)", "severity": "medium", "verificationStatus": "credible", "harmCategories": [], "harmOutcomes": [ "exploitation_or_abuse", "reputational_harm", "psychological_distress" ], "harmOutcomeSummary": "A woman's face was used in AI-made objectionable images sent to her prospective in-laws with the reported aim of breaking off her prospective marriage, after repeated harassing calls; the harm is attributed by the complainant to an unknown person and is under police investigation.", "frameworkFacets": [], "causationStatus": "alleged", "participantUsersAffectedMin": 0, "otherPeopleHarmedMin": 1, "affectedCountStatus": "exact", "affectedCountEvidence": "One complainant whose face was used (Dainik Bhaskar). Exact 1. The in-laws who received the images are recipients, not counted as harmed.", "victimAgeRange": "adult", "jurisdiction": "IN", "platformType": "other", "outcomeType": "investigation_opened", "outcomeStatus": "ongoing", "primarySourceUrl": "https://www.bhaskar.com/local/uttar-pradesh/varanasi/chiraigaon/news/varanasi-deepfake-case-girl-wedding-sabotage-chaubepur-ai-police-probe-139078997.html", "primarySourceLabel": "Dainik Bhaskar (Varanasi), 19 September 2026: चिरईगांव में AI से युवती की डीपफेक तस्वीरें बनाकर भेजीं: शादी तुड़वाने की कोशिश, पुलिस ने केस दर्ज कर शुरू की जांच", "firstPublishedAt": "2026-09-20T03:28:21.482053+00:00", "scopeVersion": "facts-v3", "tags": [ "deepfake", "non-consensual-imagery", "ai-face-swap", "instagram", "harassment", "marriage", "varanasi", "uttar-pradesh", "india" ] }, { "id": "2026-manhattan-da-deepfake-ncii-site-seizure", "caseFacts": { "claims": [ { "id": "c1", "status": "documented", "evidence": [ { "locator": "'seizure of 12 domain names of illegal websites'; 'turn pre-existing photos and videos of approximately 1,200 real people into what appear to be hyper-realistic images and videos of those individuals engaging in sexual conduct'; 'overwhelmingly women and primarily public-facing individuals'.", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s1" }, { "locator": "'the seizure of 12 domains'; 'Around 1,200 people—overwhelmingly women—were depicted in nonconsensual sexual images and videos on the websites'.", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s2" } ], "assertion": "The Manhattan DA seized 12 domains used to disseminate, publish and sell non-consensual AI-generated sexual deepfakes of approximately 1,200 real people, overwhelmingly women, including actors, politicians, athletes, musicians, activists and influencers.", "causal_attribution": "Directly established by the DA's press release; corroborated by WIRED's independent reporting." }, { "id": "c2", "status": "reported", "evidence": [ { "locator": "'many videos appeared to be reposts of content that had originally be[en] shared on the MrDeepFakes website'; 'On at least two of the seized websites, elected officials were given profiles'; '56 European politicians... 16 US politicians and two based in the UK'.", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s2" } ], "assertion": "Many videos reposted content from the defunct MrDeepFakes platform, and dozens of politicians appeared on the sites (56 European, 16 US and two UK-based figures per the American Sunlight Project), some with profiles containing their names and positions.", "causal_attribution": "Reported by WIRED, citing researchers Benjamin Shultz (American Sunlight Project) and Leonie Oehmig (Institute for Strategic Dialogue); not part of the DA's release." }, { "id": "c3", "status": "documented", "evidence": [ { "locator": "'seized these websites pursuant to a court order'; 'Our investigations into these websites and similar operations are ongoing'; sites not named.", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s1" }, { "locator": "'a seizure warrant issued by a New York State Supreme Court'; 'has not publicly named the websites'.", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s2" } ], "assertion": "The seizure was carried out under a New York State Supreme Court warrant; the DA did not name the sites and said investigations into who ran them and uploaded content are ongoing.", "causal_attribution": "DA release and WIRED." } ], "effects": [ { "label": "about 1,200 real people depicted in non-consensual AI-generated sexual imagery published and sold on 12 seized websites", "claim_id": "c1", "direction": "negative" } ], "sources": [ { "id": "s1", "url": "https://manhattanda.org/manhattan-d-a-s-office-seizes-domains-of-12-illegal-websites-selling-ai-generated-deep-fakes/", "kind": "official_statement", "access": "read", "language": "en", "translation_note": "Read in English on 2026-09-17 (DA press release, 14 Sep 2026). ~1,200 real people, 12 domains, overwhelmingly women, court-ordered seizure, ongoing investigation, victim hotline.", "independence_group": "manhattanda" }, { "id": "s2", "url": "https://www.wired.com/story/new-york-seizes-a-dozen-celebrity-deepfake-websites/", "kind": "news_report", "access": "read", "language": "en", "translation_note": "Read in English on 2026-09-17 (datePublished 2026-09-14). Independent reporting: observed takedown notices pre-announcement, New York State Supreme Court warrant, MrDeepFakes reposts, ISD and American Sunlight Project researchers, 56 EU / 16 US / 2 UK politicians.", "independence_group": "wired" } ], "version": 1, "ai_roles": [ "others_use" ], "contexts": [ "privacy", "justice", "everyday_life" ], "unknowns": [ "No individual victim is named and the ~1,200 figure is the DA's approximation; how it counts depicted people versus content creators is not fully specified.", "The site operators and uploaders are not identified and no arrests are reported.", "How long the sites operated is unclear (WIRED cites one claiming to have been online since 2018); the anchoring event date is the 14 September 2026 seizure." ], "geography": { "basis": "Event and court: the seizure was executed by the Manhattan DA under a New York State Supreme Court warrant (DA release, WIRED). Affected people span many countries (US, UK and dozens of European figures per the American Sunlight Project) and are not enumerated, so affected-person countries are left empty.", "court_countries": [ "US" ], "event_countries": [ "US" ], "affected_person_countries": [] }, "publication": { "basis": "Published under the 2026-09-15 charter as a bounded series of non-consensual AI-generated sexual imagery affecting about 1,200 real, identifiable-category people, anchored to the Manhattan DA's 14 September 2026 seizure. The DA's release and WIRED's independent reporting (with named researchers) are read; the count is the DA's approximate figure and the counting method for anonymous-actor artifact waves is flagged for the operator.", "reviewed_on": "2026-09-17" }, "ai_involvement": { "basis": "The Manhattan DA's office states AI image- and video-creation tools were used to turn real people's photos into sexual deepfakes; WIRED and cited researchers describe the AI-generated non-consensual imagery on the seized sites. The specific tools are not identified.", "status": "supported" }, "person_relations": [ "depicted_or_impersonated" ] }, "name": "New York: the Manhattan District Attorney seized 12 websites selling AI-generated sexual deepfakes of about 1,200 real people", "summary": "On 14 September 2026 Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced the seizure of 12 domain names used to disseminate, publish and sell non-consensual AI-generated sexual 'deepfake' videos. His office said individuals under investigation had used AI image- and video-creation tools to turn photos and videos of approximately 1,200 real people, overwhelmingly women, into hyper-realistic sexual imagery without consent. The victims included actors, politicians, athletes, musicians, activists and social-media influencers. WIRED and outside researchers reported that many videos reposted content from the defunct MrDeepFakes platform and that dozens of politicians appeared on the sites; investigations into who ran them are ongoing.", "incidentDate": "2026-09-14", "incidentKind": "bounded_series", "incidentDatePrecision": "day", "exposurePattern": "unknown", "reportedDate": "2026-09-14", "aiSystem": "AI image- and video-generation tools (not identified), used to create non-consensual sexual deepfakes", "severity": "high", "verificationStatus": "credible", "harmCategories": [], "harmOutcomes": [ "exploitation_or_abuse", "reputational_harm", "psychological_distress" ], "harmOutcomeSummary": "Approximately 1,200 real people, overwhelmingly women, had their faces and bodies turned into non-consensual AI-generated sexual imagery published and sold on 12 websites; the Manhattan DA described an immense toll on victims' emotional and mental wellbeing and careers, and seized the domains.", "frameworkFacets": [], "causationStatus": "supported", "participantUsersAffectedMin": 0, "otherPeopleHarmedMin": 1200, "affectedCountStatus": "documented_minimum", "affectedCountEvidence": "The Manhattan DA's office states approximately 1,200 real people were depicted in non-consensual sexual imagery on the 12 seized sites; WIRED independently reports the same approximate figure, and the American Sunlight Project counted dozens of politicians among them (56 European, 16 US, 2 UK). The 1,200 figure is the prosecuting authority's approximate count of depicted real people; recorded as a documented minimum.", "victimAgeRange": "adult", "jurisdiction": "US", "platformType": "other", "outcomeType": "investigation_opened", "outcomeStatus": "ongoing", "primarySourceUrl": "https://manhattanda.org/manhattan-d-a-s-office-seizes-domains-of-12-illegal-websites-selling-ai-generated-deep-fakes/", "primarySourceLabel": "Manhattan District Attorney's Office press release, 14 September 2026: D.A. seizes domains of 12 illegal websites selling AI-generated deepfakes (~1,200 real people)", "firstPublishedAt": "2026-09-17T03:27:44.31761+00:00", "scopeVersion": "facts-v3", "tags": [ "deepfake", "ncii", "non-consensual-imagery", "manhattan-da", "new-york", "celebrities", "united-states", "depicted-or-impersonated" ] } ] }