deepfake images using generative AI. The survey, conducted between December 2023 and November 2024, showed that these sites received 59.73 million visits from the United States, followed by 24.57 million visits from India, and 18.43 million visits from Japan during this period, according to The Star.
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Digital traffic analysis The survey identified 41 websites enabling users to generate sexually explicit images by uploading photos and altering them using generative AI. Russia and Germany followed Japan in web traffic, with 17.59 million and 16.86 million visits, respectively.
In Japan, approximately 410,000 users accessed these websites monthly, with around 80% doing so via smartphones. Most websites offered instructions in English, Russian, and some Japanese.
Global and national context The findings highlight a growing problem worldwide, as the creation and dissemination of explicit deepfake content become increasingly common. Such content, often spread via social media, raises ethical and legal concerns. Experts have called for stricter laws and improved information literacy to address the issue.
Ichiro Sato, a professor at the National Institute of Informatics, emphasized the importance of regulatory measures. “The development of laws and the promotion of information literacy are essential to tackle this issue effectively,” he stated, as