Japanese police have arrested a man suspected of using generative AI to create more than 500,000 obscene images resembling women celebrities and selling them online, a police spokesman and media reports said on Tuesday.
Concern is growing worldwide over the use of artificial intelligence tools for malicious purposes including through deepfakes, which turn genuine photos, videos or audio of people into false likenesses.
Between December 2024 and May 2025, Japanese man Tetsuro Chiba allegedly “allowed internet viewers to see 14 obscene electromagnetic image files online at set prices”, a police spokesman said.
Kyodo News, citing unnamed police sources, said the suspect is believed to have created more than 520,000 sexual deepfake images of some 300 celebrities, earning around 11 million yen (US$70,000) by promoting the content on social media.
Chiba reportedly accepted even higher fees from those requesting images of specific celebrities.
Jiji Press, reporting similar details, said he had told investigators he “did it for earning money”.
AloJapan.com