Abuse Using Technology

A synthetic media image, also called a deepfake, is a type of picture or video that is created using artificial intelligence (AI) tools. They are meant to look like real images and often the viewer cannot tell that the image is fake. Not all deepfakes are sexual but an abuser could misuse AI to create sexual or intimate images. For instance, the abuser can take a photo of you in clothing and use an app to turn it into a fake nude picture of you. This sort of deepfake image could be shared on the internet or in other ways; to the viewers, it looks like a real nude image.

Not many state laws specifically address this sort of synthetic media images. But it’s possible that other laws that deal with the following crimes might apply:

• harassment;
• stalking;
• unlawful dissemination of intimate images;
• unlawful disclosure of private images; or
• computer crimes.

You can look for the laws in your state on our Crimes page by entering your state in the drop-down menu. You can also check for your state’s laws on the Cyber Civil Rights Institute map of synthetic media laws.