New York authorities have launched a major crackdown on websites that are sharing non-consensual AI-generated sexual content, raiding 12 website domains connected to deepfake imagery from as many as 1,200 people.
The action was announced by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Monday, September 14, 2026, and represents one of the most significant enforcement actions against websites hosting synthetic non-consensual intimate imagery.
12 Websites Seized in New York.
According to prosecutors, the 12 seized websites were used to publish, share and sell sexually explicit deepfake videos and images.
The material used the faces and likenesses of real people and placed them into fabricated sexual situations. The targets included celebrities, social media personalities, athletes, activists, musicians and politicians.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office said approximately 1,200 people were identified as victims from the seized websites, with women making up the vast majority.
The domains are now taken over by the authorities and display seizure notices instead of the previously hosted material.
AI Technology Makes Deepfake Abuse Easier.
And the crackdown is just the latest manifestation of a growing problem caused by ever-better artificial intelligence tools.
Deepfake technology can manipulate photographs and videos to create highly realistic-looking content. In the case of sexually explicit deepfakes, photographs of individuals can be digitally inserted into existing adult videos without their knowledge or consent.
And such content can be very damaging to reputations, emotional and personal lives; victims might not have control over how quickly fabricated material spreads online, researchers say.
Some of the websites targeting New York had been around for years, and archived material indicated that some platforms had been online since at least 2018.
Manhattan DA Warns of Serious Harm.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg described the material as a serious violation of privacy and said the consequences can follow victims into their professional and personal lives.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has advised people who believe they have been targeted to contact the department.
A lot more than just the websites are under investigation. Prosecutors are also looking for those who run the platforms as well as those who posted the abusive material to the victims.
When it comes to law enforcement, cracking down is going to be very important.
The New York action is significant because authorities are taking aim not only at individual pieces of deepfake content but the websites and infrastructure used to distribute it.
The researchers cited in the reports said the seizures demonstrate that coordinated enforcement against synthetic non-consensual intimate imagery is possible, even though regulations differ between jurisdictions.
But experts also warn that shutting down individual websites may not be able to solve the problem. Deepfake creation tools, hosting services, search and promotion networks and payment systems can all play a role in keeping such content available online.
What’s next?
Investigators are still investigating who operated the seized websites and who contributed content to them. The 12 websites were not publicly identified at this point.
The case could also test the extent to which existing laws can be used against AI-generated sexual imagery as governments worldwide struggle to cope with the explosive growth of deepfake technology.
