San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu has taken legal action against 16 of the most popular AI-powered “undressing” websites, aiming to shut them down for violating federal and state laws. The lawsuit, announced during a press conference on Thursday, targets platforms that generate nonconsensual nude images of women and minors.
Legal Action Against AI Undressing Sites
According to The Verge, the lawsuit accuses these websites of breaching laws related to:
- Revenge pornography
- Deepfake pornography
- Child exploitation
Chiu’s office argues that these platforms also violate California’s unfair competition law, asserting that the harm inflicted on victims far outweighs any potential benefits. The lawsuit seeks an injunction to halt these operations immediately.
Over 50 Defendants Identified in Complaint
The complaint lists 50 defendants, including website operators and companies allegedly running AI-powered deepfake services. While some names remain redacted, the lawsuit publicly identifies several entities, including:
- Sol Ecom (Florida)
- Briver (New Mexico)
- Itai Tech Ltd (United Kingdom)
Additionally, the only individually named defendant, Augustin Gribinets of Estonia, is accused of running an AI undressing website featuring nonconsensual images of women and minors.
The Scale of the Problem: 200 Million Visits in Six Months
The lawsuit highlights the alarming scale of these websites, reporting over 200 million visits in just six months. Victims of these AI-generated images—many of whom are minors—have been subjected to harassment, humiliation, and emotional distress.
One particularly disturbing case cited in the complaint involves 16 middle school students in California whose images were manipulated and shared online. While the lawsuit does not specify the location, it may be linked to a Los Angeles Times report detailing an incident at a Beverly Hills high school, where five students were expelled for spreading deepfake images of classmates.
Federal Concerns and Legislative Responses
AI-driven deepfake technology has raised significant legal and ethical concerns at the federal level. In response, the U.S. Copyright Office recently issued a report recommending new laws to regulate digital replicas. Soon after, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced the NO FAKES Act, which seeks to prevent AI from replicating a person’s voice, face, or body without consent.
As deepfake technology continues to evolve, legal battles like this one may set critical precedents for protecting individuals from AI-generated exploitation.
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