AI nudify websites generate nonconsensual deepfake pornography at scale
An investigation found that 85 nudify websites generating nonconsensual sexual deepfake images rely heavily on services from Amazon, Google, and Cloudflare. The sites reportedly earn up to $36 million annually and have millions of monthly visitors, with documented cases of victims and school expulsions following the creation and spread of AI-generated nude images.
What happened
An investigation by Indicator examined 85 nudify and undress websites that allow users to upload photos and generate sexual deepfake images. Amazon and Cloudflare provide hosting or content delivery services for 62 of the 85 websites, while Google's sign-on system is used on 54 of them.
These sites often make money by selling credits or subscriptions that can be used to generate abusive images. Nudify websites have experienced explosive growth since 2019, fueled by rapid advancement in generative AI image generators.
Reported impact
The impact on victims is devastating, as social media photos are stolen and used to create nonconsensual explicit imagery. Teenagers have targeted their classmates in a new form of cyberbullying, and students at Beverly Vista Middle School in Beverly Hills, California were expelled after creating and circulating AI-generated nude pictures of their peers.
The nudify websites reportedly have millions of monthly visitors and potential annual earnings of up to $36 million.
Index analysis
Alexios Mantzarlis, cofounder of Indicator, criticized the tech industry's 'laissez-faire approach to generative AI,' arguing these companies should have ceased providing services to AI nudifiers once it became clear their sole purpose was to facilitate sexual harassment.
In response to the findings, Amazon Web Services stated they have clear terms of service requiring customers to follow applicable laws and that they act quickly to review and disable prohibited content when violations are reported. Google acknowledged that some sites violate their terms and that their teams are working to address violations and develop long-term solutions.
Governance controls
Cloudflare had not provided a comment at the time of the report.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.