The FBI has warned about a rise in extortion schemes involving AI-generated fake explicit content. The agency is advising caution when posting personal content online as malicious actors are taking images from social media to create deepfake content for blackmail purposes. According to the FBI, bad actors are manipulating victims' images using AI tools, which are rapidly becoming more sophisticated. - The altered content is then used for sextortion, blackmail, or harassment.
- Since April 2023, there has been a major uptick in the number of AI-based sextortion schemes, where perpetrators demand payment or explicit material, the FBI noted.
- The agency advises the public to monitor their children's online activity, use privacy settings and strong passwords, and employ multi-step authentication to protect accounts.
- It also cautions against accepting unfamiliar friend requests, as well as refraining from giving money or valuable items to unknown individuals.
- The FBI acknowledges that the extortion schemes could violate multiple federal criminal laws.
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