AI-Generated Nude Photos Fuel Deadly Digital Blackmail Wave

Web Editor

July 20, 2025

a woman sitting on a couch looking at her cell phone while holding her head in her hands and looking

Tragic Case of Elijah Heacock Highlights Growing Problem

The tragic suicide of 16-year-old Elijah Heacock in Kentucky, USA, has brought attention to a growing global issue of digital blackmail against minors, particularly with the rapid rise of applications that digitally undress individuals or generate sexualized images using artificial intelligence (AI).

Elijah Heacock, a teenager from Kentucky, received threatening text messages demanding $3,000 to suppress an AI-generated nude image of him. His father, John Burnett, stated in an interview with CBS News that these perpetrators are “well-organized, well-funded, and ruthless. They don’t need the image to be real; they can generate whatever they want and then use it to blackmail minors.”

Rise in Cases and Federal Response

Elijah’s death prompted an investigation into AI-driven blackmail, a method previously used against celebrities. The FBI reported an “alarming increase” in cases of blackmail against minors in the US, with victims typically being boys aged 14 to 17. This has led to a “alarming number of suicides,” according to federal law enforcement.

Thriving Black Market

A recent study by Thorn, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing online child exploitation, found that 6% of American teenagers have been direct victims of AI-generated nude photos or videos.

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) in the UK, which combats online sexual exploitation content, noted that AI-generated images can be “convincing enough to cause harm, sometimes as damaging as real images in certain cases.”

The IWF identified a “pedophile’s guide” that explicitly encourages using nudity websites to generate content for blackmailing minors. The guide’s author claimed successful blackmail of 13-year-old girls.

Indicator’s analysis of 85 websites selling such services suggests a combined annual value of up to $36 million. Eighteen of these sites reportedly generated between $2.6 and $18.4 million in the first half of the year.

These sites rely on Google, Amazon, and Cloudflare’s technological infrastructure to operate and remain profitable despite repressive measures from platforms and regulatory bodies, according to Indicator.

“Malicious and Persistent Adversaries”

The threat extends beyond the US: a recent survey by Save the Children found that one in five Spanish youth had been victim to false nude images shared online without their consent.

Earlier this year, Spain’s public prosecutor announced an investigation into three minors in Puertollano, Castilla-La Mancha, for allegedly harassing classmates and teachers with AI-generated pornographic content distributed in their school.

In the UK, a law was passed this year penalizing the creation of sexually explicit “deepfakes” with up to two years in prison for authors. Similar legislation was enacted in the US in May under President Donald Trump.

Meta Group (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) also filed a lawsuit against a Hong Kong company responsible for a nudity app called Crush AI, which allegedly repeatedly bypassed the tech giant’s rules to post ads on its platforms.

However, researchers believe these AI-driven apps persist despite such measures. Indicator notes that “new nudity tools keep emerging,” describing them as “malicious and persistent adversaries.”

Key Questions and Answers

  • What is the issue? The growing problem of digital blackmail against minors using AI-generated nude photos or videos.
  • Who is Elijah Heacock? A 16-year-old teenager from Kentucky, USA, who took his own life after being blackmailed with an AI-generated nude image.
  • What is the scale of the problem? A recent study found that 6% of American teenagers have been direct victims of AI-generated nude photos or videos.
  • How is this problem being addressed? Law enforcement agencies and governments worldwide are taking action, with the US passing legislation penalizing the creation of sexually explicit “deepfakes” and lawsuits against companies enabling such content.
  • Why is this a persistent issue? Despite efforts, new AI-driven nudity tools keep emerging, making it a “malicious and persistent adversary,” according to researchers.