Influencer investigated for using deepfake AI to sexualize minors in São Paulo churches
A 37-year-old influencer in São Paulo is under police investigation for allegedly using AI deepfake tools to create sexualized videos of teenage girls from evangelical churches without their consent. The investigation began after a 16-year-old student reported that her photograph was manipulated and published on the suspect's social media channels, which collectively had tens of thousands of followers.
What happened
The Polícia Civil de São Paulo opened an investigation in February 2026 after a 16-year-old student reported that Jefferson de Souza, a 37-year-old influencer, manipulated her photograph using AI deepfake techniques and published sexualized videos without authorization on his social media channels.
De Souza posted content on YouTube (channel 'Humor do Crente' with over 11,000 subscribers), Instagram, Facebook and TikTok (where he had approximately 37,000 followers under the name 'Silvio Souza'). According to police, he used TikTok tools to animate images of evangelical young women from Congregação Cristã do Brasil churches and create videos with sexualized content.
De Souza admitted to police that he used photos of young evangelical women and TikTok tools to animate images and generate videos, but denied knowing the age of the 16-year-old complainant and denied linking her image to sexualized or pornographic content. He claimed to produce humorous content with church-related criticism.
Reported impact
The investigation identified at least one confirmed victim — a 16-year-old whose photograph was taken in 2025 at a Congregação Cristã do Brasil altar when she was 15 years old. In the deepfake video, her image was inserted alongside three other young women without their authorization.
The incident generated significant concern among victims and families about the safety of adolescents on the internet. The Congregação Cristã do Brasil publicly supported legal measures against the influencer.
Index analysis
De Souza's use of deepfake AI to create sexualized content of minors raises questions about the accessibility of AI video manipulation tools on mainstream platforms and the vulnerability of teenage girls in online spaces.
Classification
Sources and evidence
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