40 Long Island teens targeted by AI-generated deepfake pornography leading to harassment and safety fears

Summary

A new six-part podcast series titled *Levittown* investigates the rise of deepfake pornography and its impact on victims, focusing on a case in a Long Island suburb where 40 young women discovered fake nude images of themselves circulating online without their consent. The images were created using photos scraped from social media and manipulated with AI tools, often including underage girls. In some cases, victims' personal information, including addresses and phone numbers, was shared alongside the fake explicit images, leading to harassment, stalking, and fear for their safety. The police were unable to take legal action at the time because there was no law in the U.S. criminalizing the creation of fake nude images of minors. The investigation led to a former New Zealand police officer turned private investigator who helped in efforts to shut down the website. While the case resulted in a prosecution, the podcast highlights the broader issue of deepfake technology and the need for systemic change to protect future victims.