Reducing the Risk of Image Nudification

In the age of advanced image-editing tools and artificial intelligence, image nudification has become a serious and impactful problem. “Nudification” refers to the digital manipulation of images to make a person in it appear nude when they were not. As tools to nudify images have become more easily available, they have become more commonly used in patterns of online sexual abuse against groups and individuals. Unwanted, non-consensual nudification can cause significant emotional, psychological, and reputational harm… often the same as the harms that result from the unwanted distribution of real intimate images. This post explains what nudification is, how it typically works at a basic level, and why it can be so damaging.

What is image nudification and how does it work?

Image nudification is the process of altering a photo of a person to make it appear as though they are nude or partially undressed when, in reality, they were not. This is usually done without the person’s knowledge or consent, often targeting private individuals, celebrities, and sometimes children. Some abusers also choose to use image nudification against current or former partners, in order to threaten, harass, and control them.

Unlike traditional photo manipulation using photo editing tools, modern nudification uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to make alterations more realistic and harder to detect. These images are sometimes referred to as “deepfake nudes.”

While there are many techniques, most nudification tools rely on AI-based image generation models trained on large datasets of human images. The user of the tool uploads a target image, often pulled from social media or public profiles. The software analyzes the photo and predicts what the person’s body might look like beneath their clothing, using patterns learned from thousands or millions of training images. The final image is generated, making it appear as though the person is nude, even though the result is entirely artificial. These altered images are frequently used to harass, shame, or exploit the individuals that appear in them.

What is the harm of unwanted nudification?

Similar to the distribution of (real) non-consensual intimate images, unwanted nudification can have serious and lasting effects. Nudification is an attack on a victim’s sexual integrity, bodily autonomy, and emotional well-being. It has real-life consequences, victims often experience anxiety, depression, humiliation, and fear when manipulated images circulate online. Losing control over one’s own image can be deeply traumatic. Synthetic nude images can lead to bullying, social isolation, and strained personal or professional relationships. The consequences are also long lasting, as once these images are shared online, it is extremely difficult to remove them completely. Some malicious actors create fake nude images and then threaten to share them unless the victim pays money or provides real intimate content. These are examples of financial and emotional abuse. In many jurisdictions, sharing or even creating non-consensual nudified images can be considered harassment, defamation, or even a criminal offense.

Reducing risk

It is important to remember that any image of a person’s face can be convincingly attached to an image of a nude body, and victims of image manipulation should not be blamed for the misuse of their images by others. Similarly, any image online can be copied, manipulated, and distributed without a person’s knowledge or consent.

The steps individuals can take to reduce their risk of being harmed by image nudification rely on limiting the availability of images to manipulate. This includes being cautious about publicly posting photos, using privacy settings on platforms where photos are shared, and reporting manipulated images when they are discovered to the platform they were posted on.

Image nudification is a form of digital exploitation and abuse, and nobody deserves to experience it. Understanding how it works and recognizing its potential harms are the first steps toward protecting yourself and supporting others who may be affected. By educating ourselves and those around us, we can push for stronger protections, better policies, and safer digital spaces.