Man Creates AI Deepfake Nude Images of Celebrities, Internet Celebrities in Taiwan
A Taiwanese woman discovered her boyfriend of 8 years had spent money on an AI tool to create deepfake nude images of female celebrities and internet personalities. When confronted, he denied both the behavior and saving the images, though she found them in his private photo album. The incident sparked public outrage on social media.
What happened
A woman in Taiwan discovered that her boyfriend of nearly 8 years had been using an AI tool to create deepfake nude images of female celebrities and internet personalities. The tool required paid virtual currency ('diamonds') to use.
When confronted, the man claimed the images were fake and accused his girlfriend of overthinking. He denied saving the images, but she found them hidden in his phone's private photo album.
Reported impact
The woman's post on the Dcard forum sparked widespread online discussion. Internet users condemned the man's behavior and urged his girlfriend to end the relationship, warning that his lack of respect for others suggested he would not respect her either.
Index analysis
The incident reflects growing misuse of AI deepfake technology in Taiwan, following high-profile cases such as the YouTube personality ε°η (Zhu Yuchen) who was investigated for using deepfake technology to create non-consensual intimate images of multiple women for profit.
Governance controls
Taiwan passed amendments to the Criminal Code and related laws in 2022 establishing penalties of up to 7 years imprisonment for creating and distributing fake sexual images for profit. In 2023, legislation added a specific offense of 'violation of sexual privacy and fake sexual image crime,' carrying penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment or fines up to 500,000 NT$ for non-profit cases, and up to 7 years imprisonment or fines up to 700,000 NT$ for profit-driven cases.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.