Stop and think—don’t share immediately
Resist the urge to instantly share or forward deepfake content, even if it’s shocking or surprising. Sharing potentially false or malicious content helps it spread rapidly, which might be the creator’s intention.
Ask yourself: “What is the intent of the fake?” Is it harmless fun, or explicitly dangerous? Could there be a motive behind creating this, like a scam, disinformation or slander?
“I think this content is illegal.”
Harmful, illegal content such as Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), Terrorism and Violent Extremist Content (TVEC), and Non-consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII) is dangerous and can ruin or even end lives. Report content you suspect is illegal to your country’s law enforcement authorities so they can take appropriate action.
Most social media platforms (Facebook, X/Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram etc.) have reporting mechanisms for harmful, misleading, or synthetic/manipulated media. Their built-in reporting tools are often the fastest way to get content reviewed. Look for options related to “spam,” “false information,” “hate speech,” “harassment,” or “non-consensual intimate imagery,” depending on the nature of the deepfake.
If it’s on a standalone website, you could report it to the website administrator or the hosting provider (though this is harder for average users).
- Illegal content: if the deepfake constitutes illegal content (e.g., CSAM, TVEC, NCII, or anything that promotes terrorism, incites violence or hatred), you could report it to your relevant law enforcement authorities.
- Fraud/scams: if the deepfake is being used to impersonate someone for financial gain or fraud, you could report it to law enforcement authorities or Action Fraud (the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime).
- Election interference: if you suspect it’s aimed at influencing voters, consider reporting it to the relevant electoral commission, although reporting to the platform first is usually more direct.
“This deepfake is of someone I know.”
You may wish to tell a person you know that there’s a deepfake
of them, so they can take appropriate action.
Document it:
Before the deepfake potentially gets taken down, save the
evidence. Take screenshots or save the video file/URL. Note
down where and when you saw it. This can be useful if you need
to report it to authorities later.
If the deepfake is of YOU
This is serious, especially if it’s defamatory or non-consensual intimate imagery.
Report it
Report it immediately to the police. Non-consensual sharing of intimate images (real or fake) is illegal in many jurisdictions.
Report it to the platform where it’s hosted using their reporting tools.
Document it
Document everything: save copies, URLs, screenshots.
Seek support
Seek support: contact organisations like the Revenge Porn Helpline (UK) or Victim Support. Consider seeking legal advice.
Be critical
Be critical, don’t amplify potentially harmful fakes, and use the appropriate reporting channels based on the content and context.
