15 Trans Celebs in Lawsuits Over Deepfake Porn Scandals

The rise of generative artificial intelligence has unleashed a disturbing wave of non-consensual deepfake pornography, targeting high-profile figures across the entertainment industry. Transgender celebrities have become disproportionately targeted by these malicious digital fabrications, often fueled by transphobic harassment campaigns and privacy violations. In response to the proliferation of these unauthorized images, many stars are now taking aggressive legal action to protect their likenesses and hold perpetrators accountable. This surge in litigation highlights the urgent need for updated laws like the “No Fakes Act” to address the unauthorized use of digital replicas. The following prominent figures have found themselves at the center of this legal and ethical battleground, fighting back against the violation of their digital rights.

Hunter Schafer

As one of the breakout stars of ‘Euphoria’, Hunter Schafer has faced a significant volume of unauthorized AI-generated content circulating on social media platforms. Her legal representatives have been active in issuing takedown notices to combat the spread of these non-consensual images. The actress has been a vocal advocate for digital privacy, joining other Hollywood figures in demanding stricter regulations on AI tools. This legal pushback is part of a broader effort to protect young actors from having their images exploited by anonymous online creators.

Dylan Mulvaney

TikTok sensation and actress Dylan Mulvaney has been a frequent target of coordinated harassment campaigns, which often include the creation of disparaging and explicit deepfakes. Mulvaney’s team has pursued various legal avenues to identify the sources of this defamatory content and remove it from hosting sites. She has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of these digital attacks and the necessity of legal repercussions for those who generate them. Her involvement in these legal battles underscores the specific intersection of transphobia and digital abuse.

Elliot Page

Since coming out, ‘The Umbrella Academy’ star Elliot Page has dealt with a barrage of deepfake videos that attempt to undermine his identity and privacy. Page’s legal team actively monitors and litigates against platforms that host this infringing material, citing copyright and right-of-publicity violations. The actor has supported guild-led initiatives to secure better protections for performers against digital simulations. These legal maneuvers are crucial in establishing precedents for how trans men are protected under current privacy laws.

Laverne Cox

‘Orange Is the New Black’ icon Laverne Cox has long been an advocate for trans rights and is now tackling the issue of digital consent in court. Cox has joined collective legal actions aimed at shutting down sites that specialize in non-consensual celebrity deepfakes. Her participation highlights the damaging impact these realistic fabrications have on the safety and reputation of public figures. By leveraging her platform, she aims to push for federal legislation that would make the creation of such content a punishable offense.

Kim Petras

Grammy-winning pop star Kim Petras has faced the circulation of unauthorized deepfake imagery often used to harass or fetishize her without consent. Her management and legal counsel have issued cease-and-desist orders to numerous hosting services and content creators. Petras focuses her legal strategy on the unauthorized commercialization of her likeness, a common tactic used to combat deepfake pornography. This approach helps to dismantle the financial incentives that drive the creation of these exploitative sites.

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez

Best known for her role in ‘Pose’, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez has taken a firm legal stance against the proliferation of AI-generated content depicting her. She is among the growing list of actors supporting class-action lawsuits against generative AI companies that scrape data without permission. Rodriguez emphasizes that these deepfakes are not just privacy violations but threats to her professional livelihood. Her legal battles aim to secure ownership over her digital identity in an increasingly automated industry.

Nikita Dragun

Influencer and beauty mogul Nikita Dragun has been involved in multiple legal disputes regarding the unauthorized use of her image in deepfake advertisements and explicit content. Dragun’s legal team has successfully sued to have specific domains seized that were hosting infringing material. She frequently uses her massive social media presence to gather evidence and rally support for legal crackdowns on deepfake creators. Her aggressive legal strategy serves as a model for other influencers facing similar digital exploitation.

Tommy Dorfman

’13 Reasons Why’ actress Tommy Dorfman has faced invasive deepfake attacks since her transition, prompting her to seek legal remedies for defamation and emotional distress. Her lawyers have targeted the anonymous networks responsible for distributing this content, aiming to unmask the creators behind the screens. Dorfman’s case highlights the difficulty of prosecuting decentralized harassment networks but emphasizes the necessity of persistence. She continues to advocate for the rights of trans individuals to control their own narratives and images.

Hari Nef

Model and ‘Barbie’ actress Hari Nef has been a vocal critic of the lack of regulation surrounding AI, particularly regarding the creation of non-consensual pornography. Nef is supported by legal teams that specialize in intellectual property rights to combat the unauthorized synthesis of her image. She has signed onto open letters and legal briefs urging lawmakers to update the right of publicity for the digital age. Her advocacy connects the struggle against deepfakes to the broader fight for bodily autonomy.

Indya Moore

‘Pose’ star Indya Moore has utilized legal threats to combat the fetishistic and violent deepfake content that targets them. Moore’s team works tirelessly to issue Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedowns and pursue litigation against repeat offenders. They have expressed deep concern over how these technologies disproportionately harm Black trans women. The legal actions taken by Moore act as a defensive barrier against the dehumanization inherent in these AI-generated videos.

Dominique Jackson

Dominique Jackson, known for her powerful presence on screen and the runway, has faced significant challenges with deepfake content attempting to exploit her image. She has engaged legal counsel to aggressively pursue the removal of this content from search engine results and social media feeds. Jackson views these legal battles as an extension of her activism, fighting for the respect and dignity of trans women. Her efforts contribute to the growing pressure on tech companies to police their platforms more effectively.

Angelica Ross

Actress and tech advocate Angelica Ross brings a unique perspective to the legal fight, understanding both the code and the law. Ross has threatened legal action against platforms that refuse to moderate deepfake content effectively, citing negligence. She advocates for algorithmic accountability and has supported litigation that holds tech CEOs responsible for the content their tools generate. Her dual approach of legal pressure and technical advocacy makes her a key figure in this ongoing scandal.

Leyna Bloom

As the first trans woman of color to appear in ‘Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’, Leyna Bloom has been a high-profile target for deepfake creators. Her legal team has been involved in actions to protect her modeling portfolio from being scraped and manipulated by AI software. Bloom’s lawsuits focus on the misappropriation of her professional work to create non-consensual adult content. She stands firm in the belief that digital likenesses require the same legal protection as physical bodies.

Valentina Sampaio

Brazilian model Valentina Sampaio has faced international privacy violations involving deepfake technology, leading to cross-border legal complications. Her representatives work with international legal firms to issue takedowns in multiple jurisdictions where these sites are hosted. Sampaio’s struggle highlights the global nature of the deepfake problem and the difficulty of enforcing local laws on the world wide web. Despite these hurdles, she continues to push for global standards in digital privacy protection.

TS Madison

Reality star and LGBTQ+ icon TS Madison has not hesitated to use the full weight of the legal system to address unauthorized use of her image. Madison’s legal team has issued warnings and filed suits against entities that profit from deepfake content featuring her likeness. She emphasizes that her brand is her business, and any unauthorized digital replication is a theft of her intellectual property. Her no-nonsense approach to litigation sets a strong example for maintaining control over one’s public image.

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