AI-generated sexual deepfakes of real women arrested in Japan
A 32-year-old male company employee in Hyogo was arrested in Japan for creating approximately 300 sexually explicit deepfake images of real women using generative AI, including images derived from a woman's middle school-era photo, and posting them on social media. A high school student who requested some of the images was separately referred for prosecution.
What happened
On February 11, 2026, a 32-year-old male company employee from Himeji, Hyogo created two sexually explicit deepfake images of a real woman in her 40s using generative AI based on a photo taken when she was in middle school wearing a leotard, and posted them on social media to damage her reputation.
The employee created approximately 300 such sexually explicit deepfake images of women and girls in athletic uniforms or leotards, posting about 100 of them to social media groups. A 17-year-old high school student from Tarumizu, Kagoshima requested the creation of roughly half of the images.
Reported impact
The woman whose image was used had her reputation harmed by the posting of false sexually explicit images derived from her middle school photograph. The employee stated he was motivated by wanting to please members of the social media group.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.