{ "meta": { "exportedAt": "2026-09-22T14:40:23.606Z", "formatVersion": 2, "selection": { "q": "united-states", "system": "", "harm": "", "context": "", "country": "", "role": "", "relation": "core", "evidence": "", "year": "2026", "response": "", "severity": "", "verification": "", "view": "incidents", "sort": "added" }, "totalIncidents": 3, "coverage": { "cases": 3, "countries": 1, "languages": 2, "unknownLocation": 0, "locationPending": 0, "unknownLanguage": 0, "unknownDate": 0, "lawsuits": 0, "regulatory": 2, "minors": 0, "coreRelations": 3, "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-hudsonville-michigan-ai-voice-clone-closing-wire-fraud", "caseFacts": { "claims": [ { "id": "c1", "status": "reported", "evidence": [ { "locator": "\"the four-bedroom, $460,000 condo in the nearby suburb of Hudsonville checked every box\"; \"But on May 19 this year, days before closing, they got a startling email. To keep the closing on schedule, it said, the couple needed to wire $66,026.92 to a specified bank account within 24 hours to cover a down payment and closing costs\"; \"received a call to confirm the instructions, and the voice on the phone sounded just like their loan officer\"; \"The couple wired the money.\"; \"The closing was canceled hours before the couple was scheduled to sign the final paperwork\"; \"the couple instead rushed to borrow money from family and other sources\"; \"had two extra letters: UnitedsMortgages, instead of UnitedMortgage\".", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s1" }, { "locator": "\"必須在24小時內把頭期款與交屋費用共計6萬6026.92元匯到指定銀行帳戶\"; \"收到一封緊急電郵，結果因此損失6萬多元\".", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s2" } ], "assertion": "On 19 May 2026, days before closing on a US$460,000 condo in Hudsonville, Michigan, the couple received an email demanding a US$66,026.92 wire within 24 hours from an address with two extra letters and listing a phone number two digits off their loan officer's; the husband then received a call confirming the instructions in a voice that sounded just like the loan officer; the couple borrowed from family and wired the money, which was gone by the time the real loan officer's statement arrived the day before closing, and the closing was cancelled.", "causal_attribution": "The couple's account to CNN; the World Journal item relays CNN." }, { "id": "c2", "status": "reported", "evidence": [ { "locator": "\"ensnared in a sophisticated real estate scam that uses suspected AI voice cloning and fake emails to target homebuyers in the frantic days before closing\"; \"The 64-year-old said he now believes the phone call that followed the emails was from a spoofed number and used AI-assisted voice cloning\"; \"home-buying process was compromised\"; \"likely took snippets of the loan officer\"; \"Neither the company nor the loan officer have been accused of any complicity in the scam\".", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s1" }, { "locator": "\"詐騙份子利用AI語音複製與偽造電郵\".", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s2" } ], "assertion": "The husband believes the call came from a spoofed number using AI-assisted voice cloning; CertifID's co-founder, working with the couple and federal officials, said someone's email in the transaction was likely compromised and that the scammers likely cloned the loan officer's voice from his social-media posts; CNN describes the fraud as using 'suspected AI voice cloning'.", "causal_attribution": "Attribution by the victim and a fraud-prevention firm involved in the case; no forensic confirmation is published." }, { "id": "c3", "status": "reported", "evidence": [ { "locator": "\"They eventually got money from their mutual fund and completed the home purchase in early June\"; \"Internet Crime Complaint Center, the agency\"; \"wired the money to has since closed, the couple said\"; \"We are just very apprehensive\"; \"Do we need to work a little bit longer?\".", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s1" }, { "locator": "\"終於在6月初完成購屋手續。他們已向FBI「網際網路犯罪申訴中心」(Internet Crime Complaint Center)報案\".", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s2" } ], "assertion": "The couple later completed the purchase in early June 2026 from their mutual fund, filed a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, and say the receiving account has closed; they describe apprehension and discussions about delaying retirement.", "causal_attribution": "The couple's account to CNN." } ], "effects": [ { "label": "a couple wired US$66,026.92 to scammers after a spoofed email and a call in a voice resembling their loan officer; closing cancelled, money not recovered", "claim_id": "c1", "direction": "negative" } ], "sources": [ { "id": "s1", "url": "https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/15/us/homebuyers-voice-cloning-scam", "kind": "news_report", "access": "read", "language": "en", "translation_note": "Read in English on 2026-09-19 (CNN, Faith Karimi, published 15 Sep 2026, updated the same day). Interviews with the couple, CertifID's Tyler Adams and the National Association of Realtors; FBI figures; lender's counsel comment.", "independence_group": "cnn" }, { "id": "s2", "url": "https://www.worldjournal.com/wj/story/121469/9231485", "kind": "news_report", "access": "read", "language": "zh", "translation_note": "Read in Traditional Chinese on 2026-09-16 and re-read on 2026-09-19 (World Journal, 15 Sep 2026): a relay of CNN's report, so it does not corroborate it; translation by the reviewer. Cited for the exact amount and the June completion of the purchase as reported in Chinese.", "independence_group": "cnn" } ], "version": 1, "ai_roles": [ "others_use" ], "contexts": [ "finance", "everyday_life" ], "unknowns": [ "Whether the call in fact used AI voice cloning; no forensic finding is reported.", "Whose email account was compromised and how the scammers obtained the transaction details.", "Whether any funds have been recovered or suspects identified.", "The exact loss after any recovery; CNN reports the wired amount and that the money was gone." ], "geography": { "basis": "Hudsonville, a suburb of Grand Rapids, Michigan, per CNN's report and photographs; the couple live there. No court proceeding; an FBI IC3 report was filed.", "court_countries": [], "event_countries": [ "US" ], "affected_person_countries": [ "US" ] }, "publication": { "basis": "Published under the 2026-09-15 charter as an impersonation-fraud case with a concrete, quantified consequence: a couple lost US$66,026.92 after a call in a voice resembling their loan officer that they and a fraud-prevention firm attribute to AI voice cloning. One original report (CNN) and one relay read; AI involvement recorded as suspected; the couple are not named in this record.", "reviewed_on": "2026-09-19" }, "ai_involvement": { "basis": "CNN describes 'suspected AI voice cloning'; the husband believes the confirming call used AI-assisted voice cloning from a spoofed number, and CertifID's co-founder, who is working on the case, says the scammers likely cloned the loan officer's voice from social-media clips. No technical confirmation is published. If the attribution is right, the AI impersonated a third party (the loan officer) in a live call with the victim; the email side of the fraud is ordinary spoofing.", "status": "suspected" }, "person_relations": [ "depicted_or_impersonated", "communicated_with" ] }, "name": "Hudsonville (Grand Rapids area), Michigan: a couple wired US$66,026.92 to scammers after a spoofed email and a phone call in what sounded like their loan officer's voice, which they and a fraud-prevention firm attribute to AI voice cloning", "summary": "A married couple in their sixties buying a US$460,000 condo in Hudsonville, near Grand Rapids, Michigan, received an email on 19 May 2026, days before closing, telling them to wire US$66,026.92 for the down payment and closing costs within 24 hours. The email listed a phone number differing from their loan officer's by two digits, and the husband then received a call confirming the instructions in a voice that sounded just like the loan officer. The couple borrowed from family and other sources and wired the money. The day before closing their real loan officer sent the actual statement; the closing was cancelled hours before signing and the money was gone. The husband now believes the call came from a spoofed number using AI-assisted voice cloning; Tyler Adams of CertifID, which is working with the couple and federal officials, said someone's email in the transaction was probably compromised and that the scammers likely cloned the loan officer's voice from social-media clips. The sender's address had two extra letters ('UnitedsMortgages' instead of 'UnitedMortgage'). Neither the lender nor the loan officer is accused of complicity. The couple later completed the purchase in early June from their mutual fund, reported the loss to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, and describe lasting apprehension and have discussed delaying retirement. CNN reported the case on 15 September 2026; the account the money went to has since closed.", "incidentDate": "2026-05-19", "incidentKind": "single_event", "incidentDatePrecision": "day", "exposurePattern": "single_interaction", "reportedDate": "2026-09-15", "aiSystem": "Suspected AI voice cloning of a mortgage loan officer, combined with a spoofed phone number and a look-alike email domain (tool not identified; attribution by the victims and CertifID)", "severity": "medium", "verificationStatus": "unverified", "harmCategories": [], "harmOutcomes": [ "financial_loss", "psychological_distress" ], "harmOutcomeSummary": "A couple wired US$66,026.92, partly borrowed from family, to a fraudulent account after a spoofed email and a call in what sounded like their loan officer's voice; the money was not recovered as of CNN's report, their closing was cancelled and later completed from savings, and they describe lasting apprehension and have discussed working longer before retiring.", "frameworkFacets": [], "causationStatus": "alleged", "participantUsersAffectedMin": 0, "otherPeopleHarmedMin": 2, "affectedCountStatus": "exact", "affectedCountEvidence": "CNN describes one married couple who wired the funds and bore the loss. Exact count of two.", "victimAgeRange": "adult", "jurisdiction": "US", "platformType": "other", "outcomeType": "investigation_opened", "outcomeStatus": "ongoing", "primarySourceUrl": "https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/15/us/homebuyers-voice-cloning-scam", "primarySourceLabel": "CNN, 15 Sep 2026: 'We both missed the signs:' How two homebuyers lost $66,000 in a suspected voice-cloning scam", "firstPublishedAt": "2026-09-20T03:19:50.137088+00:00", "scopeVersion": "facts-v3", "tags": [ "voice-cloning", "impersonation", "wire-fraud", "real-estate-scam", "mortgage-closing", "united-states", "michigan", "financial-loss", "ic3" ] }, { "id": "2026-vero-beach-ruma-ai-altered-sexual-images-arrest", "caseFacts": { "claims": [ { "id": "c1", "status": "reported", "evidence": [ { "locator": "\"Three counts of creation of an altered sexual depiction of an identifiable person, in violation of Florida Statute 836.13(2)\"; \"The current charges stem from incidents occurring between June and August 2026 and relate to one female victim\"; \"on a $1 million bond\".", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s1" }, { "locator": "\"Peter Solomon Ruma was arrested Sept. 2 and charged with three counts of creating an altered sexual depiction of an identifiable person and three counts of promoting an altered sexual depiction of an identifiable person, as well as sexual cyber harassment and stalking, according to Vero Beach Police\"; \"he confirmed she is an adult\".", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s3" }, { "locator": "\"Police Chief David Currey said Thursday that the current eight charges against 37-year-old Peter Solomon Ruma involve one adult female victim\"; \"Ruma is being held at the Indian River County Jail on $1 million bond\".", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s2" }, { "locator": "\"Peter Solomon Ruma was arrested Wednesday, Sept. 2, by Vero Beach police after investigators obtained a search warrant\"; \"He faces eight charges stemming from incidents between June and August 2026\".", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s4" } ], "assertion": "On 2 September 2026 Vero Beach police arrested Peter Solomon Ruma, 37, on three counts of creating and three counts of promoting an altered sexual depiction of an identifiable person (Fla. Stat. 836.13), one count of sexual cyberharassment and one count of stalking, for incidents between June and August 2026 involving one adult woman; he was held on a US$1 million bond.", "causal_attribution": "Police department account (release and news conference) relayed by four outlets; the charge list is the police's, and the custody record is reported from the jail website by TCPalm. Charges, not convictions." }, { "id": "c2", "status": "reported", "evidence": [ { "locator": "\"used AI to create sexually explicit altered images depicting victims without their consent and then distributed or promoted those images\"; \"Photographs obtained from social media and other online sources were used to create some of the altered images\"; \"detectives said they identified several additional females believed to have been victimized through similar conduct\".", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s1" }, { "locator": "\"Currey said investigators have identified several other women who may have been subjected to similar conduct, some of whom may not know their images were obtained, manipulated or shared\"; \"the investigation uncovered complaints and law enforcement contacts involving unwanted communications and similar behavior dating back several years\".", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s2" }, { "locator": "\"Police said they have identified other possible victims who have not been named publicly and may not know images of them exist\".", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s4" }, { "locator": "\"took photos from social media and other online sources to create some of the altered images\".", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s5" } ], "assertion": "Police say the accused used artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit altered images of women from photographs taken from social media and other online sources and distributed or promoted them; detectives identified several additional women believed to have been victimised in the same way, some possibly unaware, and believe the conduct may span several years.", "causal_attribution": "Police attribution of AI use; the tools are not named and the case has not been tried." }, { "id": "c3", "status": "reported", "evidence": [ { "locator": "\"The investigation began after a woman who knew Ruma contacted police detectives about an ongoing issue with him, according to court documents\"; \"she began to receive random text messages from numbers she\"; \"The photos of the woman in the texts are of her actual face being cropped from public photos on the internet, including her business profile, according to court documents. Her face was placed on random bodies of nude women\".", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s3" } ], "assertion": "According to Indian River County court documents reported by TCPalm, the investigation began when a woman who knew the accused reported an ongoing problem: from 2018 she received sexual text messages from unknown numbers referring to nude photographs online, and the photographs were her real face cropped from public photographs, including her business profile, placed on the nude bodies of other women.", "causal_attribution": "Single outlet's reading of the arrest-related court documents; the victim's account as recorded by police." }, { "id": "c4", "status": "reported", "evidence": [ { "locator": "\"He was ordered to stay away from the woman, according to Indian River County court documents\"; \"May not access the internet\".", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s3" }, { "locator": "\"Ruma is employed as a Lyft driver and Uber Eats driver, police said\".", "relation": "supports", "source_id": "s2" } ], "assertion": "Bail conditions reported from court documents include staying away from the woman, no internet access, no leaving Florida and surrendering his passport; police said the accused worked as a Lyft and Uber Eats driver but alleged no offending while driving.", "causal_attribution": "Court documents via TCPalm; police statement via CBS12." } ], "effects": [ { "label": "a woman was depicted in AI-altered sexual images made from her public photographs and distributed; several more women identified as likely victims", "claim_id": "c2", "direction": "negative" } ], "sources": [ { "id": "s1", "url": "https://www.wflx.com/2026/09/03/vero-beach-man-arrested-using-ai-create-share-fake-sexual-images-women/", "kind": "news_report", "access": "read", "language": "en", "translation_note": "Read in English on 2026-09-19 (WFLX, Aja Dorsainvil, 3 Sep 2026; converted from an on-air report). Relays the Vero Beach Police Department's release: charges, statute counts, the June-August 2026 window, one victim, additional victims, bond.", "independence_group": "vbpd" }, { "id": "s2", "url": "https://cbs12.com/news/crime/vero-beach-police-more-victims-more-charges-expected-in-ai-deepfake-generated-sexual-images-of-women-case-peter-solomon-ruma-deepfake-cyberstalking", "kind": "news_report", "access": "read", "language": "en", "translation_note": "Read in English on 2026-09-19 (CBS12/WPEC, 3 Sep 2026). Reports Police Chief David Currey's news conference: one adult victim, two phones seized, other women identified, complaints dating back years, employment as a rideshare driver. Same police account as s1.", "independence_group": "vbpd" }, { "id": "s3", "url": "https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/crime/indian-river-county/2026/09/03/vero-beach-man-accused-of-using-ai-to-create-altered-sexual-images/91590462007/", "kind": "news_report", "access": "read", "language": "en", "translation_note": "Read in English on 2026-09-19 (TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers, Laurie K. Blandford, 3 Sep 2026). Combines the police release and news conference with Indian River County court documents (the victim's account, bail conditions) and the jail website; the court-document material is the only chain independent of the police statements.", "independence_group": "tcpalm-court-documents" }, { "id": "s4", "url": "https://www.sebastiandaily.com/crime/vero-beach-man-held-on-1-million-bond-in-explicit-ai-image-case-95358/", "kind": "news_report", "access": "read", "language": "en", "translation_note": "Read in English on 2026-09-19 (Sebastian Daily, Tina Hodges, 3 Sep 2026). Police release plus court records on prior criminal history.", "independence_group": "vbpd" }, { "id": "s5", "url": "https://cbs12.com/news/local/vero-beach-man-arrested-in-ai-generated-sexual-image-investigation", "kind": "news_report", "access": "read", "language": "en", "translation_note": "Read in English on 2026-09-19 via the MSN content API copy (CBS12/WPEC, 2 Sep 2026, the first report). Police release.", "independence_group": "vbpd" } ], "version": 1, "ai_roles": [ "others_use" ], "contexts": [ "privacy", "relationships", "justice" ], "unknowns": [ "The number of additional women identified by police is not stated ('several').", "The AI tools or services used are not named.", "Whether the altered images were posted publicly, sent to the victim or sent to others is not specified beyond 'distributed or promoted'.", "No plea, trial date or further charges are reported as of 2026-09-19." ], "geography": { "basis": "Vero Beach, Indian River County, Florida per the police department and the county court documents reported by TCPalm; the victim reported to Vero Beach police and the charges are filed in Indian River County; her residence is not stated; charges filed in Indian River County.", "court_countries": [ "US" ], "event_countries": [ "US" ], "affected_person_countries": [ "US" ] }, "publication": { "basis": "Published under the 2026-09-15 charter as a harmful-artifact case: an identified but anonymous adult woman was depicted in AI-altered sexual images made from her public photographs and distributed, with several more women identified by police; a criminal arrest with statute counts. Five reports read (four relaying the police department, one adding court documents). Victim unnamed; the accused named as in court reporting; claims stay 'reported' pending court outcomes.", "reviewed_on": "2026-09-19" }, "ai_involvement": { "basis": "Police say the accused used artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit altered images from real photographs and charged him under Florida's altered-sexual-depiction statute; no conviction yet and the tools are not named. The AI artifacts depicted the affected women; the unwanted messages described in court documents came from a person.", "status": "reported" }, "person_relations": [ "depicted_or_impersonated" ] }, "name": "Vero Beach, Florida: a man was arrested on eight counts for creating and distributing AI-altered sexual images of a woman without her consent; police identified several more women as likely victims", "summary": "On 2 September 2026 Vero Beach police arrested Peter Solomon Ruma, 37, after an investigation into the creation and distribution of altered sexual images of women without their consent. Police say he used artificial intelligence to make sexually explicit altered images of victims from photographs taken from social media and other online sources and then distributed or promoted them. The eight charges (three counts of creating and three of promoting an altered sexual depiction of an identifiable person under Florida Statute 836.13, one count of sexual cyberharassment and one of stalking) relate to one adult woman and to incidents between June and August 2026. Detectives said they had identified several other women believed to have been victimised in the same way, some of whom may not know that images of them exist, and that the conduct may go back several years. According to court documents reported by TCPalm, the woman who came forward knew Ruma and had received sexual text messages since 2018; her face had been cropped from public photographs, including a business profile, and placed on nude bodies. Ruma was held on a US$1 million bond with conditions including no internet access; the investigation continues and further charges are expected.", "incidentDate": "2026-06-01", "incidentEndDate": "2026-08-31", "incidentKind": "bounded_series", "incidentDatePrecision": "month", "exposurePattern": "repeated_interactions", "reportedDate": "2026-09-02", "aiSystem": "AI image-alteration tools (not named by police); described as artificial intelligence used to create sexually explicit altered images from real photographs", "severity": "high", "verificationStatus": "unverified", "harmCategories": [], "harmOutcomes": [ "exploitation_or_abuse" ], "harmOutcomeSummary": "An adult woman was depicted in AI-altered sexually explicit images made from her public photographs, which police say were distributed or promoted, alongside years of unwanted sexual messages; police identified several further women as likely depicted in the same way. The accused was arrested on eight counts and held on a US$1 million bond.", "frameworkFacets": [], "causationStatus": "alleged", "participantUsersAffectedMin": 0, "otherPeopleHarmedMin": 1, "affectedCountStatus": "partial", "affectedCountEvidence": "The charged counts relate to one adult woman (WFLX, CBS12, TCPalm). Police say they identified 'several' other women believed to have been victimised through similar conduct, without a number. One counted plus unquantified others: partial.", "victimAgeRange": "adult", "jurisdiction": "US", "platformType": "other", "outcomeType": "criminal_charges", "outcomeStatus": "ongoing", "primarySourceUrl": "https://www.wflx.com/2026/09/03/vero-beach-man-arrested-using-ai-create-share-fake-sexual-images-women/", "primarySourceLabel": "WFLX, 3 Sep 2026: Vero Beach man arrested for using AI to create, share fake sexual images of women (Vero Beach Police Department release)", "firstPublishedAt": "2026-09-20T03:19:42.878848+00:00", "scopeVersion": "facts-v3", "tags": [ "deepfake", "ai-altered-imagery", "ncii", "fla-stat-836-13", "cyberharassment", "stalking", "united-states", "florida", "criminal-charges", "depicted" ] }, { "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" ] } ] }