Breeze Liu’s life changed forever when she discovered her face had been digitally inserted into pornographic videos without her consent. At 24, she learned a man she’d previously rejected used AI to create explicit deepfake content that spread rapidly online. The psychological toll was crushing — she lost 12 pounds in 10 days, avoided social interactions, and battled thoughts of suicide. “I felt violated in a way I couldn’t escape,” she shared during a congressional roundtable discussion [1][4].
When Liu reported the crime, police dismissed her claims and even suggested *she* was at fault, asking invasive questions about her personal life. The perpetrator faced no consequences, instead creating hundreds more fake videos that haunted her across platforms. “They called me a prostitute while letting my attacker walk free,” Liu revealed, highlighting law enforcement’s inadequate response to digital sexual violence [1][4].
Determined to prevent others from enduring her nightmare, Liu founded — a free facial recognition tool that scans the internet for unauthorized deepfakes. Partnering with major platforms, the system helps victims quickly identify and demand removal of abusive content. “This isn’t just about me,” she stated. “We need tools to reclaim control over our own images” [1][5].
The problem exploded in 2023, with over 21,000 deepfake porn videos online — a 460% annual increase. Lawmakers like Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and John Cornyn (R-TX) have proposed bipartisan legislation to criminalize sharing non-consensual deepfakes, with penalties up to two years in prison and $150,000 fines. “Our laws must catch up to this predatory technology,” Hassan argued [4].
Deepfake abuse disproportionately targets women, with 96% of cases involving nonconsensual sexual imagery. Celebrities like Taylor Swift faced viral AI-generated nude spreads, while ordinary women deal with reputational ruin and emotional trauma. Experts blame entrenched misogyny, noting perpetrators often view women’s bodies as public property [2][4].
Liu now leads a class-action lawsuit against Pornhub while testifying before Congress. “Justice starts when we refuse to be silenced,” she declared. Though tech solutions like Alecto AI offer hope, advocates stress that lasting change requires stronger laws, corporate accountability, and a societal rejection of digital exploitation.
