A New Jersey teenager has filed a groundbreaking AI deepfake lawsuit against the company behind the ClothOff clothes removal tool, which was allegedly used to create fake nude images of her.
The plaintiff, now 17, posted photos of herself on social media when she was 14. A male classmate then used the ClothOff tool to alter one of the pictures, digitally removing her clothing while keeping her face.
The manipulated, AI generated nonconsensual images spread rapidly through group chats and social media.
Details of the AI Deepfake Lawsuit
Filed on the plaintiff’s behalf by a Yale Law School professor, several students, and a trial attorney, the lawsuit targets AI/Robotics Venture Strategy 3 Ltd., the company behind ClothOff. The legal action seeks to protect students and teens from the exploitation enabled by such AI tools.
The suit demands the court order the deletion of all fake images of the plaintiff and prevent the company from using them to train its AI models. It also seeks financial compensation for emotional harm and calls for the ClothOff tool to be removed from the internet.
A Test for AI Developer Liability
This case raises critical legal questions about AI developer liability when people misuse their technology. It challenges the argument that such software is merely a neutral tool and could serve as a turning point in how courts address digital abuse.
On its website, the company states, “Using AI to create ‘deepnude’ style images raises ethical considerations.” It encourages users to approach the technology with an “understanding of responsibility and respect for others’ privacy.“
Legal Landscape and Legislative Challenges
More than 45 states have passed or proposed laws to make creating deepfakes without consent a crime. New Jersey law allows for prison time and fines for creating or sharing deceptive AI media, while the federal Take It Down Act requires companies to remove such content.
However, prosecutors face challenges when developers operate overseas or through hidden platforms. Although ClothOff was reportedly blocked in the United Kingdom after public backlash, its web platform appears to remain accessible in the U.S.
