DOJ Seizes AI-Generated Deepfake Sites Under New Cybersecurity Law

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has seized the websites CFAKE.com and SOCFAKE.com, which allegedly hosted nonconsensual AI-generated nude images and videos of women, marking the first publicly announced domain seizure under the TAKE IT DOWN Act, according to a DOJ announcement on Friday.

Key Details of the Seizure

The domains, which displayed sexually explicit deepfakes of politicians, celebrities, athletes, and royalty, were taken offline by the DOJ and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) after a federal judge found probable cause of violations of the TAKE IT DOWN Act. The seizure notice on the sites cited 47 U.S.C. § 223, which prohibits nonconsensual publication of intimate imagery and digital forgeries.

“These domain seizures mark a significant victory in the fight against deepfake pornography,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in a statement. The law, signed in May 2025, mandates that platforms remove reported deepfakes within 48 hours and imposes fines or imprisonment for violations.

The TAKE IT DOWN Act Explained

Championed by First Lady Melania Trump as part of her “Be Best” initiative, the TAKE IT DOWN Act criminalizes the distribution of nonconsensual AI-generated explicit content. The law requires online platforms to act swiftly on victim reports, a provision that has already been used in previous cases, such as the 2025 conviction of an Ohio man for creating deepfake pornography.

“The law gives us the tools to combat the abuse and exploitation of women and children through these fabricated images,” Blanche added. The legislation was inspired by growing concerns over AI’s role in enabling sexual harassment and reputational harm, with experts warning that deepfakes could be weaponized for political or financial gain.

International Collaboration in the Investigation

The operation involved coordinated efforts between U.S., Italian, and French authorities. Italian Postal and Cybersecurity Police first alerted U.S. agencies to the sites in 2025, leading to a court-ordered block within Italy. French prosecutors later arrested a suspect in Nice on June 10, 2025, and seized cryptocurrency linked to the operation, according to the DOJ.

“This domain has been seized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security… as part of coordinated law enforcement actions,” the seizure banner on CFAKE.com states. The international collaboration underscores the cross-border nature of deepfake distribution, which often relies on offshore servers and anonymous networks.

Implications for AI Ethics and Cybersecurity

The case highlights the challenges of regulating AI-generated content, which can be created from existing media using tools like synthetic data generators. Cybersecurity experts warn that deepfakes are increasingly used for scams, phishing, and misinformation, with a 2024 report by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) noting a 140% rise in deepfake-related incidents since 2022.

“While the TAKE IT DOWN Act is a step forward, enforcement remains complex,” said Dr. Emily Chen, a cybersecurity researcher at MIT. “The anonymity of the dark web and the rapid evolution of AI tools mean that perpetrators can quickly adapt to new regulations.”