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Completely free or for as little as $2 USD, individuals without any technical skills can weaponize images using AI to create sexual abuse imagery, which is then used to harass and extort. The use of AI to generate nude/naked depictions of individuals is a concerning and escalating trend. It’s particularly alarming that such technology is being utilized in sextortion crimes, including those targeting youth.
The other day, while scrolling through TikTok, we stumbled upon an ad promoting a service that claimed to reveal your crush naked. This caught us off guard, considering the longstanding concern over celebrity deepfake porn websites. Some of these sites boast millions of views per month. What’s truly alarming, even individuals with no technical skills can easily transform a fully clothed photo of someone into a nude or semi-nude image within minutes using this new AI technology.
It seems that AI designed to create non-consensual intimate images has turned into a comprehensive business model. A quick Google search reveals numerous web services that boast the ability to undress any standard image with just a click of a button.
Video and photo editing are no longer confined to those with specialized skills. Thanks to generative AI, anyone can now create any type of media they desire, regardless of whether they have the consent of the individuals depicted. These manipulated images, particularly nude/naked pictures, are being weaponized for various nefarious purposes, including harassment, intimidation, extortion, and blackmail.
Here in Canada, we are aware of instances involving panicked teens who were seeking assistance, because a nude image was being circulated within their school. However, in many cases, these images were never sent or created by the individual in question; rather, they were generated using AI technology.
There are emerging terms used to refer to the process of creating AI generated nude images, such as “DeepNudes” or “Undressed AI”. The term DeepNude is derived from the widely known term “deepfake”.
A deepfake refers to a manipulated video or audio clip created using deep learning techniques, particularly generative adversarial networks (GANs). These algorithms are capable of synthesizing realistic-looking images, videos, or audio recordings of people saying or doing things they never did. Deepfakes can be created by swapping faces, mimicking voices, or even generating entirely fabricated content.
Making fake nude images is nothing new. Before AI, it was all about Photoshop editing skills. We remember back in the early 2000s, there was an investigation that The White Hatter was a part of where a teen’s nude photos were being shared around their school. However, the individual informed us that they had never taken any nude pictures and the image was not of them. What a group of teen boys did was morph a classmate’s profile picture into a nude photo they had downloaded online. Their editing skills were so advanced that at first glance, the image appeared to be 100% legit.
In the past, the production of these types of images required particular expertise in manually making adjustments. Today, with just a click of a button, anyone without photo editing expertise can take a standard picture from social media, duplicate it, and then drastically change its original purpose.
Investigative Study - Testing DeepNude Apps
We tested 24 Deepnude and undressing branded programs!
To gain a deeper understanding of DeepNudes, we conducted a thorough, research-based review of these AI undressing apps. The objective was to assess the ease with which an average person could utilize these apps to generate free fake nude images, or with minimal barriers at low cost.
***Spoiler Alert: We found surprising outcomes from complimentary uses could be created without payment on some of the platforms tested***
The challenge we faced – ethically selecting an image for testing purposes. Therefore, we generated a synthetic AI human image of a person, over the age of 18 years, to serve as our test subject whom we’ve named Anna. While using a real person’s image would provide greater realistic DeepNude image results, we aimed to assess the general usability and accessibility of these programs. We believe this test and evaluation approach was the safest (and most legally sound) option. Rest assured, all sensitive media images generated in our testing will be censored.
Here is What We Discovered
Reviewing the 24 Deepnude and undressing branded programs in our top Google results, we noticed that most of these apps are unavailable for download from mainstream platforms such as the Apple or Google stores. Instead, they can be directly downloaded from the creators’ websites or accessed entirely through the web. It is conceivable that they would likely face bans if hosted on credible app stores.
Utilizing these platforms typically involves registering an account, although creating a fake account, using a fake email is a straightforward process. Someone intending to use these apps maliciously would likely not use their personal email. Therefore, we do not view this as a major barrier to access. However, certain platforms may require logging in through another service such as Discord or Telegram. Consequently, creating a fake account on Discord would also not present a significant obstacle in our evaluation.
Logging into our new accounts, most of these deepfake nude apps offer a free trial period where users can experiment with the app, generating a few free, albeit lower-quality images, often restricted to blurred or underwear-only renditions. To access higher-quality full nude images and more uploads, users are typically required to purchase tokens or subscribe to a monthly plan.
Notably, some premium upgrades can only be obtained through cryptocurrency on certain sites. We excluded sites that didn’t offer a free option, and relying solely on crypto may be too complex for the average internet user, making the service less accessible.
In our view, some of these sites are clearly scams, particularly those operating solely on cryptocurrency without providing any evidence of fulfilling the promised service.
DeepNude Marketing Strategies
Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that some of our findings led to the same website, seemingly engineered to boost search engine rankings. Website names like “Undress” and “Deepnude” would redirect to the same application, likely designed to optimize their visibility in search results. This strategy appears to be quite effective based on our observations and testing.
Out of our 24 test sites, although having distinct URLs, some website designs and structures were strikingly similar. Additionally, website record searches indicated they were likely created by the same individual, suggesting an effort to maximize web visibility.
DeepNude/Undress AI Results
Among our 24 results, we identified 7 sites that we deemed user-friendly, offering free samples with HD upgrades available and accepting payment not only via cryptocurrency but also through credit cards.
Upon examining the free sample images, it became evident that some of these apps produced more realistic results than others. Our testing image was a fake adult human. Even among AI-generated nudes, there was variation in realism, with some appearing more cartoonish than lifelike.
What About Real Images?
During our public testing, we employed an AI model and evaluated the DeepNude results, which were not perfect. Among the apps we tested, the one that, in our opinion, yielded the best results was used with consent to test an image featuring a member of The White Hatter. At first glance, the nude images appear convincingly believable. However, similar to the case with Anna, upon closer inspection, the artificial nature of the image becomes apparent.” We have no doubt that as this technology matures, it will become extremely difficult to differentiate an AI-generated intimate image from the real thing.
The Harm of DeepNudes
- Privacy Invasion: The creation and distribution of fake nude images without the person’s consent constitute a severe invasion of privacy. It can be emotionally distressing and violate an individual’s right to control their own image and personal information.
- Emotional Distress: Discovering that fake nude images of oneself are circulating online can cause significant emotional distress, shame, and embarrassment. The psychological impact can be long-lasting and may lead to anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues. Even if the image is not 100% realistic it can still be destructive.
- Damage to Reputation: Fake nude images can harm a person’s personal and professional reputation. Employers, colleagues, friends, and family may be exposed to these images, leading to judgment, ostracization, and damage to relationships.
- Cyberbullying and Harassment: Individuals whose fake nude images are circulated may become victims of cyberbullying and online harassment. This can manifest as threatening messages, online abuse, and even physical harm in extreme cases.
- Impact on Relationships: Fake nude images can strain personal relationships, including friendships, romantic partnerships, and family ties. The breach of trust and the emotional toll can lead to the breakdown of relationships. It can consume an enormous amount of emotional labour reaching out to inform and prove to friend an family the image are fake.
- Difficulty Removing Content: Once fake nude images are published online, it can be challenging to remove them completely. They may be shared and reposted on various platforms, making it difficult for the individual to regain control over their personal images.
- Fear of Exposure: Victims may live in constant fear of further exposure, with concerns about who else might see the fake images or if new images will be created. This fear can have a lasting impact on an individual’s mental well-being.
To tackle these challenges, certain jurisdictions have either implemented or are contemplating legislation explicitly directed at addressing the creation and dissemination of non-consensual intimate images. These laws aim to furnish legal remedies for victims and serve as a deterrent for potential offenders. Furthermore, technology companies and social media platforms are actively engaged in developing tools to detect and counteract the proliferation of deepfake content. Despite these initiatives, the potential harms associated with fake nude images persist, emphasizing the crucial need for preventive measures and avenues for legal recourse.
Can New Laws Help?
Certainly, in our experience, most deepfake images are weaponized within a local context, meaning that the person generating the images is typically someone known and can be identified, such as a friend, workplace or school adversary, or former romantic partner. In such cases, local and federal laws are likely to have the most significant impact in deterring this behavior.
However, a challenge arises when these images are generated as part of an international crime. While there is geopolitical coordination among NATO-friendly countries, not every nation in the world respects each other’s laws. Moreover, in certain regions, corruption may hinder local law enforcement agencies from taking effective action. This presents a complex challenge in combating the misuse of deepfake technology across borders.
Will an AI Ban Help?
Similar to local laws, implementing an AI ban would necessitate universal compliance and enforcement across all countries. However, some governments have already indicated that they have no intention of restricting AI technologies. This suggests that relying solely on a ban may not be a comprehensive solution to addressing the misuse of AI.
Someone is Making & Sharing DeepNudes - What Laws Can Apply?
When Deepnudes depict a person under the age of 18, there are often strong laws in place in many countries. Creating AI-generated intimate images of individuals under the age of 18 in most places would legally be considered the production of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Those teens and adults engaging in such activities using these apps may face arrest, charges, and convictions for crimes such as the production, distribution, and possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.
At times, a sexual image of youth semi-nude, with important private parts covered, in some countries has still been considered Child Sexual Abuse Material given a specific context READ MORE
Deep nudes of those under the age of 18, in most countries, can be illegal, and you bet there are a lot of law enforcement resources now being dedicated to investigating these types of crimes.
Now for adults, nude pictures are not explicitly illegal.
Some jurisdictions, states, provinces, and countries have been implementing intimate image protection laws that make it unlawful to share/distribute someone’s nude image without their consent.
In the absence of dedicated DeepNude legislation, creating AI-generated deepnude images of individuals above 18 year may potentially violate other criminal laws, contingent on the context, such as…
- Defamatory Libel
- Harassment
- Uttering Threat
- Intimidation
- Extortion
- Indecent Communications
Unfortunately, without a specific law, most criminal offences or unlawful acts are not about the image itself, but rather how it’s being used.
In some countries, like Canada, there could also be civil claims and remedies that could include:
- Defamation
- Appropriation of Personality
- Public Disclosure of Embarrassing Private Facts, and
- False Light Tort
What Laws Should be Created?
Recently, our local government, where our studio is located, implemented a new law that we believe sets a commendable standard in practice, and could serve as a model for other jurisdictions. This civil law grants residents the authority to control, remove, and pursue financial restitution for the sharing of nude, nearly nude, or other intimate images, with or without consent, and in cases where there’s a threat of distribution. You can find detailed information about the seven key provisions of this law in our dedicated video.
What sets this law apart and enhances its effectiveness, in our view, is the introduction of an online tribunal. This virtual court allows individuals whose intimate images have been distributed without consent to file an online application swiftly, seeking a legal court order. Additionally, the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General’s Intimate Image Protection Service has been established to offer assistance and guidance to those targeted by such actions.
Laws, no matter how well-crafted, are only effective when accompanied by the necessary resources for enforcement and support for survivors.
Remember – The law may not deter less-than-desirable behaviour online, but it can empower those who are being targeted.
Final Thoughts
The rise of AI-driven applications capable of digitally manipulating images to create explicit content presents a significant danger to the safety and welfare of both young people and adults alike. Given the interconnected nature of the internet, these applications can swiftly spread across North America and beyond.
As technological progress marches forward, it becomes increasingly crucial for parents, caregivers, educators, and law enforcement to initiate candid discussions with young individuals regarding the responsible utilization of digital devices and the inherent risks linked with specific applications. Remain informed, remain watchful, and take proactive measures to safeguard yourself against the potential dangers posed by these AI-driven platforms.
