A disturbing phenomenon fueled by artificial intelligence has surfaced in Spain, where nearly twenty underage girls have become victims of “Deepfake porn.” This perilous trend involves the dissemination of manipulated images, using AI to place the girls’ heads on naked bodies that are not their own. The revelation of this case has sparked intense controversy and concerns across the country.
Victims speak out: the impact on underage girls in Almendralejo
In the town of Almendralejo, located in the southwest of Spain, authorities have received eleven complaints from underage victims. “We have received eleven complaints from underage victims,” a police spokesperson confirmed. The province of Badajoz, too, has witnessed a rising number of girls falling prey to this insidious form of exploitation, known as “Deepfake porn.”
“They took a picture of her and montaged it as if she were naked (…) using artificial intelligence.” – Miriam Al Adib, mother of a victim
AI at the center of the storm: creating realistic but fake images
AI, being at the heart of this controversy, is now capable of producing highly realistic photomontages. These images are not only a violation of privacy but also raise concerns about the potential offense of child pornography, given the age of the victims. An ongoing investigation is seeking to address the alleged invasion of privacy and the broader implications of child exploitation through AI-generated content.
“AI is now capable of producing very realistic photomontages.” – Police source
Extortion and exploitation: a disturbing twist in deepfake cases
The gravity of the situation is intensified by reports suggesting that these manipulated images might find their way onto platforms such as “Onlyfans” or other explicit websites. Disturbingly, some mothers have reported instances where these images were used as tools for extortion, attempting to extract money from the victims.
“These photos could be uploaded to the ‘Onlyfans’ platform or to pornographic sites.” – Police advisory to victims’ families
AI’s dark side: a growing menace for unconsented deepfake content
The incident in Spain underscores the broader global concern surrounding AI misuse, particularly in the creation of malicious content like pornographic “deepfakes.” According to a 2019 study by the Dutch company Sensity, 96% of fake videos online fall under the category of non-consensual pornography, predominantly featuring women.