● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportMedium impact1 negative
Study Finds Major Tech Companies Enable Deepfake Abuse Through Infrastructure Services
Key points
- Deepfakes have become more widespread since 2017.
- Study identified 88 sites actively hosting non-consensual AI imagery.
- Cloudflare, Google, Namecheap, WordPress, and Protonmail are dominant providers.
- Providers supply hosting, SSL certificates, and domain registration.
Infrastructure Providers Support Abusive Deepfakes
A recent study, "The Backbone of Abuse: How Infrastructure Providers Enable the Proliferation of AI-Generated Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery," found that major internet infrastructure companies are supporting websites that host non-consensual deepfakes. These deepfakes, which are AI-generated sexually explicit images, have become increasingly prevalent and accessible since 2017, appearing on social media and through web searches.
The research highlights that these abusive sites rely on services from companies like Cloudflare, Google, Proton, Namecheap, and WordPress. These services include web hosting, email, advertising, and content management systems, which are crucial for the sites' operation and reach.
Study Methodology and Findings
Conducted by Hany Farid, Sophie Nightingale, and Sarah Morgan, the study analyzed 88 active websites hosting non-consensual intimate imagery over a six-week period. The researchers used open-source web-analysis tools, such as WHOIS, to identify the infrastructure providers used by these sites.
The analysis revealed that Cloudflare provided a significant portion of services, including website hosting, content delivery network, and domain-name server services. Google supplied SSL certificates and advertising space, while Namecheap was the primary provider for domain registrar services.
Violation of Terms of Service
The study points out that these major tech companies continue to provide services to sites hosting illegal and harmful content, despite their own terms of service often prohibiting such material. This ongoing support allows the proliferation of abusive deepfakes, which frequently target female celebrities, actresses, K-pop idols, and women in politics or activism.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
A new study published in Stanford's Journal of Online Trust and Safety reveals that prominent web infrastructure providers like Cloudflare, Google, and Namecheap support websites hosting non-consensual AI-generated imagery. These companies provide essential services such as hosting, domain registration, and SSL certificates, despite their own terms of service prohibiting illegal content. The findings indicate that these providers are integral to the proliferation of abusive deepfakes.