The internet is flooded with deepfakes, with the majority being explicit content. A report from Home Security Heroes reveals that 98% of all deepfake videos online are pornographic. The rise of accessible and easy-to-use generative AI tools has led to a 550% surge in the number of deepfakes on the internet between 2019 and 2023, many of which are nonconsensual. Although laws in the U.S. are still catching up to address nonconsensual deepfakes, Google has made it slightly easier to have these removed. The company recently updated Search with changes to its ranking algorithm aimed at reducing deepfake content in search results. Additionally, Google introduced a faster process for requesting the removal of nonconsensual deepfake porn from Search.

The simplest method to request the removal of a nonconsensual deepfake porn result, whether it’s a webpage, image, or video, from Google Search is by using this online form. It’s important to note that there’s a different form specifically for child sexual abuse imagery. Additionally, the content must meet Google’s removal criteria as outlined below;

• It’s nude, intimate, or sexually explicit (for example, images or videos of you) and is distributed without permission.
• It’s fake or falsely depicts you as nude or in a sexually explicit situation,
• It incorrectly associates you or your name with sex work.

At this point, choose the option “Content falsely depicts me in a sexual act or intimate situation. (This is often referred to as a ‘deep fake’ or ‘fake pornography)

On the last page of the form, after providing your name, country of residence, and contact email, you’ll need to specify whether the deepfake content depicts you or someone else. Google permits others to request content removal on behalf of someone else, but only if they are an “authorized representative” and can explain how they have that authority.

The next section is for content information. Here, you’ll need to provide the URLs of the deepfake content you want removed (up to 1,000), as well as the URLs of the Google Search results where this content appears (also up to 1,000). Additionally, you must include the search terms that bring up the deepfakes. Finally, you’ll be asked to upload one or more screenshots of the reported content and any other relevant information that could help clarify the situation.

After submitting a request, you’ll receive an automated email confirmation. The request will then be reviewed, and Google may ask for additional information, such as more URLs. You’ll be notified of any actions taken, and if the request doesn’t meet Google’s removal criteria, you’ll receive a follow-up explaining why. Denied requests can be resubmitted with new supporting evidence.

Google states that when a request to remove nonconsensual deepfake porn results is successful, their systems will also work to filter out explicit results for all similar searches related to that person. Additionally, if an image is removed from Search under Google’s policies, their systems will scan for and remove any duplicates of that image.

Google notes that these protections have already been effective in dealing with other types of non-consensual imagery, and they’ve now extended these capabilities to cover fake explicit images as well. These measures aim to provide people with added peace of mind, particularly if they’re worried about similar content resurfacing in the future.