Discovering that someone has used AI to put your face into an image or video you never took part in is frightening and deeply unfair. It is not your fault, and you are not powerless. Most platforms now have specific reporting routes for synthetic imagery, and the legal picture is changing quickly in your favor. Take a breath; you do not have to do everything today.
Step 1: Document it, safely#
Removal can make evidence disappear, so capture it first. Do this once, calmly, then stop looking if it is upsetting. If you can, ask a trusted friend to help.
- Take screenshots showing the content, the account name, the full URL, and the date and time.
- Copy the link of every place it appears into a simple list (a notes app is fine).
- Note who posted it, any captions, comments, messages or threats that came with it.
- Do not re-share, forward or repost the content, even to "warn" people. It spreads the harm and can create problems for you.
- If the content is sexual and involves anyone under 18, do not save or send copies. Report it to the police and see the support options below.
Step 2: Report it where it is posted#
Use the platform's own report tool and choose the option closest to "non-consensual intimate imagery", "impersonation", "harassment" or "AI-generated / manipulated media". Describe it plainly: the image is fake, it uses your face, and you did not consent. Attach your links.
| Situation | Best category to choose | Useful detail to add |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual or nude fake | Non-consensual intimate imagery (including AI-generated) | State that it is synthetic and that you did not consent |
| Fake account using your face | Impersonation | Link to your real profile |
| Fake video or voice used to mislead | Manipulated or AI-generated media | Explain who is being deceived and how |
| Threats or demands for money | Harassment, blackmail or sextortion | Do not pay; keep every message |
If the platform does not respond, report again through its dedicated forms, and keep a record of each report. In the United States, the TAKE IT DOWN Act now requires covered platforms to offer a removal process for non-consensual intimate images, including digitally altered or AI-generated ones, and to act on valid requests within 48 hours. If a platform ignores you, you can report it to the FTC at TakeItDown.ftc.gov.
Step 3: Ask Google to remove it from search#
Even after a post is removed, copies can still appear in search results. Google has a process for explicit or intimate imagery that covers both real images shared without consent and fake or AI-generated ones.
- Open the image in Google Search
Click the image, choose "More", then "Remove result".
- Choose the reason
Select "It shows a sexual image of me" and say whether it is a real image shared without consent or a fake, AI-generated image.
- Add more images
You can include additional images in the same request.
- Turn on protections
You can ask Google to filter duplicates and related results in future searches. You can track the request in the "Results about you" hub and by email.
For non-sexual deepfakes, see our guide on how to remove images from Google Search. Removing a result from Google does not delete the content from the website that hosts it, so keep reporting at the source too.
Step 4: Know your legal options#
The law is catching up with synthetic media. Examples that may apply, depending on where you live and where the person responsible is:
- United States: the federal TAKE IT DOWN Act (signed May 2025) covers real intimate images and "digital forgeries" created or altered with software or AI. The FTC began enforcing the platform removal duties on 19 May 2026. Many US states also have their own deepfake or intimate-image laws.
- United Kingdom: sharing or threatening to share intimate images without consent is an offence under the Online Safety Act regime, and creating or requesting a sexually explicit deepfake without consent became a criminal offence under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.
- Elsewhere: many countries have harassment, defamation, privacy or data protection laws that can apply. A local lawyer or legal aid service can tell you what fits your situation.
A police report can also help platforms take you seriously. Bring your evidence list. If you are being blackmailed, do not pay, stop engaging, and report it.
Step 5: Get support#
You do not have to carry this alone. Specialist services are free and confidential.
- UK (adults 18+): the Revenge Porn Helpline supports victims of intimate image abuse, including synthetic sexual content (0345 6000 459, weekdays; email help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk).
- US: the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative runs a free crisis helpline at 844-878-2274, available 24/7.
- Real intimate images, any country: StopNCII.org lets adults create a digital fingerprint (hash) of an image on their own device so participating platforms can detect and block it. It works only on participating platforms, and your images never leave your device.
- Trusted people: a friend, family member, counselor or doctor. Distress after something like this is a normal reaction.
Where our tool fits in (and where it does not)#
If you want to find out where your own real photos are being used online, which can reveal accounts or pages that reuse them, you can run a self-protection search. You see the number of matches first, and nothing is charged if there are none; the full report unlocks with 1 credit (packs from $9.90 / €9.90). You upload your own photo and email, the browser does a first analysis on your device, a deeper search runs on our server for a few minutes, and a summary appears on screen and by email. Only the person pictured may use it, and consent is required because face images are biometric data. It is not designed to identify strangers, it cannot see everything on the internet, and it cannot guarantee that any particular deepfake will be found. A synthetic image may not match your original photo at all.
Want to check where your own photos appear online? Start a search to see how many matches exist.
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