Italian Privacy Authority Blocks Clothoff Deepfake Nudification App
Italy's Data Protection Authority blocked the Clothoff app, a generative AI system that creates synthetic nude images and videos of real people without consent or disclosure. The regulator cited risks to human dignity and privacy, particularly for minors, and initiated an investigation to extend the block to similar applications.
What happened
The Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante per la protezione dei dati personali) ordered immediate provisional limitation of data processing for Italian users of Clothoff, a generative AI application operated by a company based in the British Virgin Islands.
Clothoff enables users, including minors, to create synthetic nude or sexually explicit images and videos of real people from photographs without any consent verification mechanism or disclosure that the images are artificially generated.
Reported impact
The Authority cited elevated risks to fundamental rights and freedoms, particularly regarding human dignity, privacy and personal data protection, especially when minors are involved.
The Authority stated that recent incidents involving misuse of such synthetic images constitute a widespread social alarm in Italy.
Index analysis
The Authority noted that the application allows anyone, including minors, to generate deepfake content without safeguards to verify consent of the person depicted and without disclosure that the content is artificially created.
The Authority initiated an investigation to extend the block to all similar applications offering nudification functionality.
Governance controls
The Authority imposed the block in urgent proceedings with immediate effect, citing a lack of consent verification mechanisms and absence of disclosure requirements regarding the artificial nature of generated content.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.