Concern 499 · Working draft · editorial review in progress
Deepfake porn distribution
Synthetic intimate-image distribution spreads nonconsensual sexual fabrications through hosting sites, messages or reposts.
Understanding the concern
Creating an abusive image and spreading it are separate harms. Even after the original post is removed, copies may continue to circulate elsewhere. Each new audience can renew the damage, and a person may face a burdensome series of reports across different services.
Removal systems therefore need to consider copies and clear communication with the person affected. US covered platforms have duties under the TAKE IT DOWN Act after a valid request, while other jurisdictions have their own rules. A removal from one service does not guarantee that every copy disappears, so platforms should state precisely what action they took.
An example
A person receives confirmation that one post was removed but later encounters copies on other services.
Illustrative unless identified as a documented case.
Words in plain English
- Synthetic
- Made by a computer or another artificial process rather than directly recorded from the event being described.
- Distribution
- The pattern of examples a system sees. A shift means new examples differ from the ones used in training or testing.
Evidence and its limits
The US guidance concerns covered platforms and valid requests; hash-sharing services cover participating platforms. Neither guarantees global deletion.
Federal Trade Commission · May 2026 · Regulatory guidance
Complying With the Take It Down Act ↗ (opens in a new tab)US covered-platform duties effective May 19, 2026, including removal after valid notice; does not guarantee global removal.
StopNCII.org · operated by SWGfL · Service documentation
How StopNCII.org Works ↗ (opens in a new tab)Image fingerprints are generated on the user's device and shared with participating platforms; not a whole-internet removal service.
Broader frameworks and background
These resources provide context. They do not establish every claim in this concern.
- OECD AI Incidents and Hazards Monitor (opens in a new tab)
incidents
- AI Incident Database (opens in a new tab)
incidents
- International humanitarian law (IHL)
framework
The body of law that governs the conduct of armed conflict and the protection of people who are not fighting, which applies to AI used in or for conflict.
A question to discuss
How can platforms coordinate removal while keeping the affected person informed and protecting their privacy?
Keep track of different views, what needs checking, and any next step in your own discussion notes.
Open discussion notes →Principles for the conversation
Before you finish · reflect together
Virtues and principles to consider
Virtues are qualities we practice in how we treat people and make choices. They are not scores for judging someone. Use these ideas to explore what a thoughtful response could look like.
Truthfulness
Truthfulness means making claims that match the evidence and being clear about what we do not know. It includes correcting mistakes rather than protecting a polished story.
Check sources, label guesses, and distinguish a trial result from a proven benefit. If AI helped produce a claim, someone still needs to take responsibility for checking it.
Ask together: What can we honestly say, and what still needs checking?
Meaningful conversation
Conversation means making room to understand and be understood. It is more than winning a debate or collecting quick agreement. People can explore a question together without starting from the same view.
Use a concrete example, invite different experiences, and ask what might change each person's mind. Let concerns and hopes sit together long enough to reveal choices that a simple yes-or-no argument would miss.
Ask together: What can we learn from each other before deciding?
Unity
Unity means working toward shared purposes while making room for real differences. It does not require everyone to have the same experience, beliefs, or opinion.
Look for a goal people can share, then explore disagreements about how to reach it. Make sure quieter or less powerful voices can influence the result.
Ask together: What purpose can we share while respecting our differences?
Editorial ratings
These are editorial judgments from the register, not measured probabilities or predictions about your situation.
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