How to get through and over it (I was victim)

A Toronto woman is speaking out about the toll of non-consensual deepfake pornography after discovering her likeness was used in AI-generated videos on TikTok. Despite reporting the account to the platform three months ago, she reported that the content remained active, highlighting significant gaps in both platform moderation and legal protections for adult victims of AI-generated imagery.

What happened

The victim discovered the abuse when a suspicious account sent her a follow request on TikTok using her own photo as a profile picture. Upon investigating the account, she found a collection of AI-generated videos depicting her face superimposed onto a body in lingerie, performing sexual acts. The creator had harvested her image to fabricate these videos without her consent.

Following the discovery, the victim attempted to contact the account holder directly but received no response. She subsequently reported the profile to TikTok, yet the content remained live for months. The psychological impact was severe, leading the victim to skip classes and live in fear of being recognized or disbelieved in public. When she approached the Toronto Police Service for assistance, she was informed that current Canadian law, specifically the Criminal Code, does not clearly criminalize the creation of non-consensual deepfake imagery of adults. While the law contains provisions for child sexual abuse material involving AI, authorities acknowledged that existing legislation was not designed to address the rapid evolution of deepfake technology as it pertains to adults. The victim's case underscores the ongoing struggle for victims to secure the removal of harmful AI content and the challenges law enforcement faces in prosecuting these digital violations.