Someone made a deepfake of you: what to do next

Finding a fake video of yourself, whether it's a face-swap, a cloned voice or an explicit image you never took, is frightening. It is not your fault, and there are concrete steps that work. Here's what to do, in order.

If you're in immediate danger or being threatened, contact the police first. In India, dial 112 for emergencies.

1. Don't engage with whoever posted it

Don't reply, threaten or pay. If someone is demanding money to delete it, paying rarely ends it and often leads to more demands. Block them only after you've saved evidence.

2. Save the evidence

Before anything gets deleted, record:

• Links to every post, profile and group where it appears.
• Screenshots showing the content, the account name, the date and the number of views or shares.
• Messages, emails or calls related to it, including any threats or demands.
• A copy of the video if you can download it.

Keep everything in one folder, with a simple list of what you found, where and when. Ask a trusted friend to help if looking at it is too distressing.

3. Report it to every platform

All major platforms prohibit non-consensual intimate content, impersonation and harmful manipulated media, and have reporting forms for them. Report every copy, choose the most specific reason (for example, "non-consensual intimate imagery" or "impersonation"), and mention that it's AI-generated or altered.

In India, the IT Rules require platforms to act on a complaint from the person shown when content is sexually explicit or is an impersonation, including artificially morphed images, and to remove it quickly, within 24 hours for such content. Each major platform also has a Grievance Officer you can escalate to.

4. Stop intimate images spreading further

If the content is intimate or sexual, StopNCII.org lets you create a digital fingerprint (a hash) of the image or video on your own device, without uploading it. Participating platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, use that hash to block copies. Google Search also accepts requests to remove fake explicit images of you from its results.

5. File a cyber crime complaint

In India, report at cybercrime.gov.in, the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, which has a dedicated option for crimes against women and children, or call 1930. You can also go to your nearest police station or cyber cell. Bring your evidence folder. Creating and sharing fake intimate images, impersonation and extortion are offences under Indian law.

6. Get proof that it's fake

A clear, documented analysis can help when you talk to platforms, employers, family or the police. Upload the video to Video Verifier: the report shows the signals and timestamps behind the result, and a Deep Scan checks every second of picture and speech. Keep the PDF report with your evidence.

Remember that no detector can prove a video is fake with certainty, and we won't claim otherwise. A report is supporting evidence, alongside the fact that you can say where you really were and what you really said.

7. Tell people before they hear it elsewhere

If the fake is spreading among people you know, a short, calm message helps: "A fake video using my face is going around. It's AI-generated and I've reported it. Please don't share it, and send me any links you see." Most people respond with support.

8. Look after yourself

This kind of abuse can be deeply distressing. Talk to someone you trust. In India, the Tele-MANAS mental health helpline (14416) is free and available around the clock.

Reduce the risk in future

• Make personal accounts private, and limit who can download or remix your videos.
• Be careful with clear, front-facing photos and voice notes posted publicly.
• Agree on a family code word for unusual requests, so a cloned voice can't fool your relatives. More in our guide to voice cloning scams.