Why this matters for deepfake blackmail on Google

How removal works

The four step deepfake removal process under the TAKE IT DOWN Act of 2026.

What to do, step by step

  1. 01
    Forensically preserve every instance before any other action Capture full page screenshots with the URL bar visible, save the highest resolution copy of the blackmail deepfakes available, and document any visible AI generator fingerprints including watermarks, edge blending artifacts, and skin texture inconsistencies. All communications stating the demands and the deepfake threat
  2. 02
    Run a biometric scan to find every copy across platforms deepfake blackmail content distributed on Google rarely stays there. ScanErase indexes 2.4 billion face embeddings across 200 plus platforms and identifies every current hosting location in a single scan, including mirror copies and AI generated variants.
  3. 03
    Complete the forensic preservation record Captures and preserves all deepfake content in a forensically sound manner that supports both criminal prosecution and civil litigation. Evidence preservation must occur before any takedown action because removed content cannot always be recovered. For deepfake blackmail cases on Google specifically, capture the platform unique identifiers including post id, account handle, and timestamp. Capture the search query that surfaces the content, the result URL, and any cached or thumbnail versions. Google retains cached snapshots that may persist for weeks after the underlying content is removed.
  4. 04
    Report to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center File at ic3.gov immediately with full evidence of the scam communications. The FBI maintains active investigations against organized sextortion and AI deepfake operations and can coordinate with international law enforcement.
  5. 05
    Coordinate the Google platform removal pipeline Google accepts NCII removal requests through its dedicated NCII removal form for Search and Images. Approved requests result in URL deindexing from Google Search results within 12 hours typically.
  6. 06
    Notify Google and Bing for search deindexing Search engine deindexing runs in parallel to platform removal. Even after the original is removed, search engines retain cached thumbnails and snippets for weeks. File NCII removal requests with both Google and Bing alongside the platform notice.
  7. 07
    File the complete evidence record for the legal track Federal Rules of Evidence 902 for self authenticating digital evidence provides the foundational legal basis for this action. Document every notice sent, every platform response, and every confirmation in a single evidence file. ScanErase produces this Verified Removal Package automatically as your case progresses.

The 48 hour statutory deadline

Statutory 48 hour removal timeline: 47 USC 223a requires platforms to remove non-consensual intimate imagery within 48 hours of a valid notice.

Legal context

Frequently asked questions

Will paying the sextortion demand make it stop?

Documented data from FBI investigations shows that payment confirms ability to pay and produces escalating demands in over 80 percent of cases. Payment also creates additional financial evidence that the perpetrator can weaponize. Do not pay under any circumstances and file the IC3 report immediately.

How long will Google actually take to remove the deepfake content?

Google typically responds in approximately 12 hours when a properly formatted statutory notice is filed. ScanErase files the notice within 5 minutes of authorization and tracks compliance through your Verified Removal Package.

What if the deepfake content is removed before I can complete the evidence preservation?

Even removed content typically remains recoverable through Internet Archive captures, search engine cached copies, and witness reproduction. The platform itself retains records that are recoverable through subpoena. Document everything you can about the URL, posting account, and timing even if the content itself is no longer accessible.

What if the perpetrator re uploads the deepfake to Google after removal?

Google retains hash signatures of removed NCII content which prevents identical re uploads to the same platform. A follow-up ScanErase scan checks for re uploads across all 200 plus indexed platforms, including AI generated variant versions, so you can file a new notice as soon as matches reappear.

Will the preserve the evidence action reveal my identity to Google or the perpetrator?

Complete forensic record of the deepfake content with chain of custody documentation that supports admissibility in both criminal and civil proceedings. The disclosure scope is limited to what the action requires. Your scan and removal process is not disclosed to employers, family, or any third parties beyond the recipients required by the specific legal procedure.

I searched someone is using deepfakes to blackmail me and found this guide. What is the very first thing I should do right now?

Before any other action, forensically preserve the evidence with full page screenshots and the highest resolution file copies you can obtain. Do not comply with the perpetrator's demands. Compliance produces escalating demands and creates evidence the perpetrator may use to characterize the relationship as consensual. Once evidence is preserved, the Google takedown notice and the preserve the evidence action can proceed in parallel.