Deepfake Pornography Victims Rise, FBI Alerts!

Perpetrators use technology and content manipulation services to exploit photos and videos. (photo: dock.pexels)

JAKARTA - The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warns the public, especially children against deepfake or synthetic pornographic content, which manipulates tame photos or videos to target victims.

"The FBI continues to receive reports from victims, including small children and adults who disagree, whose photos or videos are turned into explicit content," the FBI said in its official blog post, quoted Thursday, June 8.

"The photo or video is then circulated publicly on social media or porn sites, for the purpose of harassing victims or sextortion schemes," he added.

According to the FBI, this arises because of technological advances that continue to improve the quality, ability to adjust, and accessibility of content creation that supports Artificial Intelligence (AI).

In FBI research, they found malicious actors using technology and content manipulation services to exploit photos and videos. Usually taken from someone's social media account, open internet, or requested from the victim, then becomes a real sexual themed image like the victim.

"(Then) circulating it on social media, public forums, or porn websites. Many victims, including minors, do not realize their images have been copied, manipulated, and circulated until they are known by others," the FBI said.

The photos were sent directly to the victim by malicious perpetrators to perform sextortion or harassment, until they were found on the internet themselves.

Once circulated, victims can face significant challenges in preventing constantly sharing or removing manipulated content from the internet.

According to the FBI, the purpose of sextortion is the desire for more illicit content, financial benefits, or to oppress and harass others.

"The malicious perpetrator has used manipulated photos or videos in order to blackmail the victim into getting a ransom or to meet other requests (for example, sending nude photos)," the FBI explained.

In April 2023, the FBI has observed an increase in the number of sextortion victims reporting from the use of fake images or videos made of their content on social media or web posts.

On average they receive directly from criminals based on requests, or recorded during video chats.

Based on the victim's recent report, malicious perpetrators usually sue, payment (for example money, gift card) with threats to share images, videos with family members or social media friends if funds are not received and the victim sends actual sexual-themed pictures or videos.

This United States (US) federal agent appealed to the public to be careful when posting or sending direct messages of personal photos, videos, identity information on social media, dating apps, and other online sites.

Not to be missed, the FBI reminds to always monitor children's online activities and discuss risks related to sharing personal content.

Then, be careful when receiving requests for friendship, communicating, engaging in video conversations, or sending images to unknown people personally.

Finally, secure social media and other online accounts using passwords, complicated passwords and multifactor authentication.