Deepfake Nudes: Real Dangers In A Digital Facade

Singapore's Deepfake Ordeal

In August 2023, Mathilda Huang, a 28-year-old content creator from Singapore, faced a distressing invasion of privacy when deepfake nudes of her appeared on disreputable sites. These images were falsely claimed to be from her OnlyFans account, a platform known for adult content shared with subscribers.

Ms. Huang described the experience as "humiliating" as she attempted to have the images removed from search results, a task that proved both daunting and degrading. Her ordeal highlights the troubling rise of AI-powered "nudifying tools" found on forums, apps, and groups where digital manipulation is easy and widespread.

The AI Tool's Global Impact

December 2025 saw a surge in these concerns when X, a social media platform backed by Elon Musk, allowed its AI chatbot Grok to create provocative images, including putting women and children in transparent attire. This drew the attention of regulators in the UK, EU, and France, who launched investigations, prompting temporary bans from countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

These bans were short-lived as X agreed to introduce more robust content controls, but the dangers of deepfake technology remain. Victims often suffer from harassment, reputational harm, and psychological issues, leading to immediate government intervention to protect citizens.

Real Life Consequences

For Ms. Huang, the fallout from her deepfake nudes was severe. "There were a slew of direct messages that came in on my social media, which asked me how much I was charging for a night and solicited me for sexual services," she recalled in an interview with The Straits Times, emphasizing the very real danger posed by these synthetic images.

“The sense of violation and betrayal is profound when deepfakes circulate among acquaintances,” said Michelle Ho, a researcher at the National University of Singapore.

In Almendralejo, Spain, over 20 teenage girls became victims of deepfakes created by their classmates, leading to an extortion case. Such incidents underscore the personal and immediate threat these technologies pose when creators and victims are in proximity.

Legal and Cultural Responses

Expert voices suggest that broad bans may not be the ultimate solution, as they can lead to users finding new platforms or workarounds. This was evident in Malaysia and Indonesia, where access to Grok continued despite bans, thanks to VPNs and alternative means.

Singapore is opting for dialogue with X while gearing up for the Online Safety Commission (OSC), anticipated to streamline responses to digital harm. The recently passed Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act will empower the OSC to enact remedies like content removal and account shutdowns, offering victims direct recourse.

Societal attitudes also need to shift, as pointed out by Sugidha Nithiananthan from Aware. "When society downplays these harms, it compounds survivors’ trauma," she noted, stressing the importance of validating victims' experiences to diminish the impact of deepfake nudes.