Feds Seize CFAKE and SOCFAKE Over Explicit Deepfakes of Famous Women
US authorities seize CFAKE and SOCFAKE domains for hosting nonconsensual deepfake nudes.
Summary
US authorities have seized the domains CFAKE.com and SOCFAKE.com, which allegedly hosted thousands of nonconsensual deepfake nude images of famous women. This action is one of the first major federal uses of the TAKE IT DOWN Act, making it a federal crime to publish such material without consent when intended to cause harm. The investigation involved international cooperation, including alerts from Italian police and a parallel investigation in France.
Full text
Cyber CrimeFeds Seize CFAKE and SOCFAKE Over Explicit Deepfakes of Famous Women Both CFAKE and SOCFAKE (CFAKE.com and SOCFAKE.com) were seized after prosecutors said they hosted nonconsensual nude digital forgeries of famous women. byWaqasJune 15, 20262 minute read US authorities have seized two domains accused of publishing thousands of nonconsensual deepfake nude images (digital forgeries) of famous women, in one of the first major federal actions using the TAKE IT DOWN Act. The Department of Justice (DOJ) said CFAKE.com and SOCFAKE.com were taken offline after seizure warrants (PDF) were issued in the District of New Jersey. The case focuses on digitally altered or AI-generated sexual images and videos made to look like real public figures. According to the Justice Department, the victims included politicians, first ladies from multiple countries, royalty, journalists, television presenters, athletes, entertainers, and other well known women. Prosecutors said the site also used tags such as “rape,” “forced,” and “degradation,” making the alleged conduct more than a simple impersonation issue. List of “Categories” offered by CFAKE and SOCFAKE (Image credit: DOJ) The TAKE IT DOWN Act in Action Visitors to the seized domains are now met with a law enforcement notice showing the seals of the DOJ, Homeland Security Investigations, French authorities, Italian police, and other agencies involved in the operation. The notice says the domains were seized under a federal warrant as part of an investigation into violations of 47 U.S.C. § 223, the TAKE IT DOWN Act. The law, passed in May 2025, makes it a federal crime to publish sexually explicit digital forgeries of an identifiable adult without consent when the material is not a matter of public concern, and the posting is intended to cause harm or does cause harm. That gives prosecutors a direct tool for cases involving deepfake sexual abuse, where the image may be fake, but the target, reputational damage, and privacy violation are real. According to the DOJ’s press release, the investigation began after Italy’s Polizia di Stato, Postal and Cybersecurity Police, alerted U.S. law enforcement. U.S. investigators later shared evidence with French authorities through the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, leading to a parallel French investigation. Authorities in France arrested a suspect in Nice on June 10 on French criminal charges and seized cryptocurrency, according to the DOJ. It is worth noting that the DOJ did not frame the takedown as the end of the matter. Meaning, if you run a website like CFAKE and SOCFAKE, authorities are coming after you for good as well. The seizure notice on both CFAKE and SOCFAKE How and Where to Report Deepfake Content If you are a victim of deepfakes in the United States, you can report the content to Google using this guide. You can also file a complaint with the FBI here, or follow RAINN’s guide for clear, practical information on how and where to report explicit, nonconsensual deepfake content. While illegal content can also be reported directly to the hosting platform under the EU Digital Services Act, StopNCII.org is one of the main reporting tools for nonconsensual intimate image abuse worldwide. The platform partners with all major online platforms, including META, Microsoft, TikTok, Reddit, OnlyFans, PornHub, X, and more. For content against children, the better-known Europe-linked route is INHOPE, which connects users to national hotlines for reporting suspected child sexual abuse material. Waqas I am a UK-based cybersecurity journalist with a passion for covering the latest happenings in cybersecurity and tech world. I am also into gaming, reading and investigative journalism. View Posts AICFAKECyber CrimeCybersecurityDeepfakeFBIPrivacySOCFAKETechnology Leave a Reply Cancel reply View Comments (0) Related Posts Cyber Crime Phishing Scam Scammers using voicemail email phishing scam to steal data Scammers are taking advantage of COVID-19 pandemic to spread a voicemail email phishing scam. byWaqas Read More Cyber Crime Project Compass Targets 764 Network as 30 Arrested and Victims Rescued Europol’s Project Compass targets The Com (aka 764 network), an online group exploiting minors. After 30 arrests, officials say the hunt for those involved is far from over. byDeeba Ahmed Read More Cyber Crime Authorities Take Down Criminal Encrypted Messaging Platform MATRIX Another day, another cybercrime operation shut down - this time, Europol has dismantled the MATRIX encrypted messaging service. byWaqas Read More Cyber Crime Dark Web Brothers Behind Rydox Dark Web Market Extradited to US USA secures extradition of criminals from 9 countries, including two brothers behind Rydox, a dark web market for stolen data and hacking tools. byWaqas
Indicators of Compromise
- domain — CFAKE.com
- domain — SOCFAKE.com