Xiao Yu deepfake pornography

Chu Yu-chen (朱玉宸), 26, aka 'Xiaoyu', and two associates, have been arrested for creating, selling and distributing over 100 porn videos of Taiwanese celebrities and politicians.

According to Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau, the three made over NT$11 million over the past year by superimposing peoples' faces on to existing pornographic videos using deepfake technology without their consent.

In addition to selling deepfakes of public figures on a series of Telegram groups, Chu accepted commissions to make deepfake videos of lesser-known individuals as a form of 'revenge porn.'

Several victims say they will press charges against the suspects.

National legislator Kao Chia-yu (高嘉瑜), also a victim, says she will pursue legislation to cover deepfakes, as Taiwan’s existing laws are reckoned to be inadequate to deal effectively with the problem.