Millions of individuals are gravitating towards harmful AI "nudify" websites, which allow users to create non-consensual and abusive images of women and girls. Despite interventions from some lawmakers and tech companies, millions continue to access these platforms, generating substantial profits for their creators. Recent analysis indicates that these sites may be earning up to $36 million annually.
Research conducted on 85 nudify and “undress” websites shows that they collectively attracted an average of 18.5 million visitors over the past six months, largely relying on services from major tech firms such as Google, Amazon, and Cloudflare to function. Alexios Mantzarlis, a cofounder of the investigative publication Indicator, describes the nudification ecosystem as a "lucrative business" enabled by Silicon Valley’s lax stance on generative AI. He argues that tech companies should stop providing services to these platforms due to their clear association with sexual harassment.
Amazon and Cloudflare offer hosting and content delivery services for 62 of the 85 websites, while Google’s sign-on system is utilized by 54 of them. While both Amazon and Google acknowledge violations of their service terms and express their commitment to address such violations, many of the websites have adapted their strategies to evade detection.
These nudify websites have been on the rise since 2019, originating from the technology used to develop the first explicit deepfakes. They transform images into non-consensual explicit material, earning revenue by selling subscriptions or credits for generating images. This trend has escalated significantly with the advent of various AI image generation tools. The potential harm is immense: victims often find their images repurposed, leading to severe emotional distress, as these images are difficult to remove from the internet.
In assessing the infrastructure behind these sites, the research combined various open-source tools and data. It included estimates of revenue from subscriptions and customer conversions, suggesting that 18 of the websites could have made between $2.6 million and $18.4 million in just six months.
The majority of visitors to these sites come from the United States, followed by India, Brazil, Mexico, and Germany. The popularity of nudifiers has led to malicious actors—such as Russian hackers—creating malware-laden imitation sites. Some websites have resorted to creating promotional content through adult entertainers or adopting affiliate programs to bolster their visibility.
Industry experts emphasize that tech companies must take decisive action against these platforms to mitigate the risks involved. Despite ongoing discussions and some legal action against non-consensual image generation services, a more comprehensive crackdown is needed to deter this growing and harmful industry.
Though some municipalities and entities like Microsoft and Meta are taking legal steps to combat this issue, experts agree that tech companies must take more proactive stances. Websites that enable nudification should face stringent restrictions to reduce their visibility and accessibility, ultimately diminishing their audience and revenue potential. While the emergence of deepfake technology has created significant challenges, there is potential for regulatory measures to mitigate the damage significantly.
