A deepfake of you appeared? Here is what to do.
Whether intimate deepfake, fake video or cloned voice — you are not alone and you are not powerless. This page guides you step by step through what matters now: legally, technically and emotionally. Discreet, confidential, fast.
95 %
of all deepfakes worldwide are non-consensual intimate content*
24-72h*
typical takedown time on major platforms
§201a
StGB applies to intimate deepfakes — up to 2 years imprisonment
24/7
our AI monitors the web for your face
What is a deepfake — and how do you know you are a victim?
A deepfake is an AI-manipulated or AI-generated media file (image, video, audio) showing a real person in a context they were never in. Today, a single publicly available photo is enough. Intimate deepfakes account for over 95 % of all online deepfakes. In Germany §201a StGB applies — up to 2 years imprisonment.
A deepfake is an AI-manipulated or AI-generated media file showing a real person in a context they were never in. Today, a single publicly available photo is enough to create convincing deepfakes. The number of pornographic deepfakes has multiplied since 2019 — over 95 % of all online deepfakes fall into this category.*
Typical signals you may be affected: messages from strangers with unusual content, hints from your circle, content suddenly appearing in your Google image search, or hits in a reverse image search. When in doubt: confidential first scan — free, no obligation.
Immediate steps for deepfake incidents
1. Stay calm — do not respond yourself
Direct responses to distributors, extortionists or comment threads increase visibility. Do not respond, do not delete your own profiles, do not post emotional statements in the first hours.
2. Preserve evidence
Screenshots of all deepfake URLs with visible address bar, date and timestamp. Also save the HTML source (right-click → "View Source" → save). You need this documentation for DMCA notices and any criminal complaint.
3. Start the automated takedown
leak.red dispatches DMCA notices on your behalf. Parallel to Meta, YouTube, X, Reddit, adult aggregators, Telegram, Discord and file hosters. The earlier the process starts, the smaller the spread.
4. File criminal complaint
For intimate deepfakes: §201a StGB. For all deepfakes with recognizable persons: §33 KUG. File with the cybercrime unit of your federal state — not the local police station. Evidence from step 2 is your basis.
5. Block search indexing
Even if the source persists: de-indexing from Google and Bing prevents the deepfake URL from being found via search. leak.red requests de-indexing in parallel.
6. Inform your circle — in a controlled way
For professionally relevant deepfakes: short, factual info to direct business partners before they see it elsewhere. For private deepfakes: only trusted contacts. No public statements in the first hours.
7. Activate long-term monitoring
Deepfakes often reappear on other platforms after weeks or months. The AI scans continuously 24/7 for your face and dispatches new takedown notices automatically.
How leak.red detects and removes deepfakes
You don\x27t need to search yourself, formulate notices yourself or communicate with platform support. leak.red handles the complete technical process.
AI facial recognition
You upload reference images to the dashboard. The AI generates mathematical face embeddings and scans the web continuously. Even slightly modified or edited deepfakes are reliably detected. Read more on content fingerprinting in the glossary.
Platform-specific detection
Crawlers run in parallel on Meta, YouTube, X, TikTok, Reddit, adult aggregators, dedicated deepfake forums, Telegram channels, Discord servers and file hosters like MEGA or Google Drive.
DMCA takedown dispatch
For every match, a DMCA-compliant takedown notice is automatically generated and sent. Typical processing times: Meta 24-48h, YouTube 48h, X 24-72h, TikTok 3-5 days. Full DMCA guide.
Search de-indexing
For bulletproof hosters that ignore takedowns, the software requests de-indexing from Google/Bing. The deepfake disappears from search results.
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Legal framework — §201a StGB, KUG, GDPR
The German legal situation has been clearly on the victims\x27 side since the StGB reform 2021. The most important statutes:
- §201a StGB: Applies to intimate recordings or recordings suitable to significantly damage the depicted person — explicitly including AI content. Up to 2 years imprisonment. Full guide.
- §33 KUG: Distribution of image recordings without consent is a criminal offense, as long as the person is recognizable.
- §22 KUG: Images may only be distributed with consent of the depicted person. Protection 10 years after death.
- §185 StGB (Insult): Additionally possible for defamatory deepfakes.
- §823 BGB: Civil damages.
- EU Digital Services Act (DSA): Fully enforceable since February 2024. Obligates all EU platforms.
- GDPR Art. 17: Right to erasure — your face is personal data.
leak.red handles the technical takedown on DMCA/DSA basis. A criminal complaint under §201a StGB you file in parallel through the cybercrime unit of your federal state. For damages claims we can refer you to specialized law firms; any mandate is concluded directly between you and the firm.
Frequently asked questions about deepfake help
A deepfake of me appeared — what can I do?
Three steps in parallel: (1) Preserve evidence — screenshots of deepfake URLs with visible address bar, date, time. (2) Start the takedown — leak.red handles automated DMCA notices to the platform. (3) Consider a criminal complaint — for intimate deepfakes §201a StGB applies in Germany. Important: do not contact distributors yourself — that only increases visibility.
What exactly is a deepfake?
A deepfake is a media file (image, video, audio) manipulated or fully generated by AI to depict a real person in a false context. A single publicly available photo is enough today to create convincing deepfakes. Most common: intimate deepfakes, political manipulation, voice scams.
How do I know I am affected by a deepfake?
Typical signals: messages from strangers with unusual content, hints from your circle, content suddenly appearing in your Google search results, hits in a reverse image search. leak.red offers a free initial scan: send reference images, the AI compares with current web content and reports matches.
Are deepfakes prosecutable in Germany?
Yes, in most cases. §201a StGB (violation of personal privacy) applies to intimate deepfakes — up to 2 years imprisonment. §33 KUG (right to one's own image) applies to all deepfakes with recognizable persons without consent. §201a StGB was expanded in 2021 and since then explicitly covers AI-generated content.
How quickly does leak.red remove deepfakes?
On major platforms like Meta, YouTube, X or TikTok removal typically happens within 24-72 hours. On smaller hosters or specialized forums it can take 3-7 days. With the AI Priority Boost the process is up to 3x faster. Actual removal depends on the respective platform operators.
What does deepfake removal cost?
leak.red offers an all-in-one package starting at 99 EUR per month (excl. VAT) with unlimited takedowns including deepfake detection. No hidden costs per removed content. Traditional law firms often charge 150-300 EUR per single takedown notice.
Can I have deepfakes removed without a lawyer?
Yes. DMCA and DSA requests are formal enough that platforms process them without legal representation. leak.red automates the correct technical dispatch. For criminal complaints or damages claims, lawyer involvement makes sense — we can refer you on request; any mandate is concluded directly between you and the law firm.
What if the deepfake keeps reappearing?
Unfortunately normal — once distributed, content often reappears on other platforms weeks or months later. leak.red keeps the AI running continuously and dispatches new takedown notices automatically on new matches. You don't need to search yourself.
Act now — structured
99 EUR/month. Unlimited takedowns. AI scans 24/7. Made in Germany.
* Source: Deeptrace — industry study estimating ~95 % of online deepfakes are non-consensual intimate content. Updates via Sensity AI reports. All figures are third-party industry estimates, not our own surveys. Platform processing times are solely determined by the respective operators; no guarantee.
Sources & References
- §201a StGB — German Criminal Code
- §33 KUG — Right to one\x27s own image
- Google Transparency Report — DMCA statistics
- EU Digital Services Act (DSA)