Deepfake of you online? What to do and what the law says in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Note: This article is not legal advice. Last checked: 13 October 2026.

If you have just found a deepfake of yourself:

1. Don't share it, don't comment on it, don't message the person behind it.
2. Secure evidence: the link, a screenshot with the address visible, the date, the time, the account name.
3. Bring in someone you trust. They can go through the places it appears for you.
4. Then report it: to the platform, to Google and, if needed, to the police and a lawyer. This article explains the order.

A deepfake doesn't show you. It shows what someone else wanted to do to you.

What is a deepfake, and why are creators hit so often?

A deepfake is content created or altered with AI that shows a real person so convincingly that it looks real, even though it never happened. With sexual deepfakes, your face is usually placed onto someone else's body, or a so-called nudify app "undresses" an ordinary photo.

Creators are particularly exposed, because many images of them are public and perpetrators hide behind the excuse that "she shows herself anyway". That is wrong. You decide what you show, to whom and at what price. In early 2026, the Grok chatbot on X produced sexualized images of real women on a massive scale. The European Commission opened proceedings against X on 26 January 2026 as a result 1.

In Germany, the case of TV presenter Collien Fernandes sparked a broad debate in March 2026. She made public that sexual deepfakes and fake profiles of her had been spread for years. Nothing has been established in court 2.

Are deepfakes illegal?

Making and spreading a sexual deepfake of a real person without consent can be a criminal offence, but the exact rules depend on where you live. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland you can report it, and platforms remove such content under their own rules.

Laws on deepfakes are changing quickly in all three countries. Check the current state with a lawyer or a counselling service before you rely on a specific rule.

What should I do first?

First you secure evidence, before you report anything. Once a platform deletes the content, you no longer have it as proof for the police or your lawyer.

For every place it appears, note down:

• the full URL
• a screenshot showing the address and the date
• the date and time you found it
• the name of the account or channel
• whether your name, your stage name or your profile appears next to it

The approach is the same as for a leak. You can reuse the evidence table from the OnlyFans leak emergency plan directly. Don't pass the deepfake on, not even "as a warning" to friends. If someone is blackmailing you with it, don't pay and don't reply. More in Sextortion and blackmail on Instagram.

How do I get a deepfake removed from a platform?

Report it directly to the platform where it appears, using the route for illegal content or non-consensual intimate images. Most major platforms ban this kind of content in their rules.

Two routes help:

• The platform's reporting form: Many platforms have their own form, often called "report illegal content" or, for users in the EU, a report under EU law. If the platform refuses, there is usually an internal appeal. How that works is explained in Instagram account suspended.
• Copyright report: If one of your own photos was used as the base, many platforms also offer a copyright form. Whether that fits your case, a lawyer can tell you.

For sites outside the EU that don't respond to anything, the remaining routes are the hosting provider, the search engines and a lawyer.

How do I remove a deepfake from Google Search?

Google has a separate category for deepfakes, apart from its policy for real intimate images 3. That matters for creators: for real, consensually made content, Google only removes results if the content isn't being used commercially. A deepfake, though, is something you never approved 3.

Two things to know:

• Google only removes the search result, not the content on the site itself 3. So always report to both.
• If your legal name is linked to porn sites, there is a separate request for that too 3.

Does StopNCII work for deepfakes?

Partly. StopNCII creates a digital fingerprint (a hash) of an intimate image on your own device. Partner platforms compare new uploads against it and can block them, without the file ever leaving your device 4.

The catch with deepfakes: you need the file itself on your device to create the hash. With a leak you have the original; with a deepfake you would first have to download it. According to its FAQ, StopNCII also accepts AI-generated images if they show you nude or semi-nude, you are an adult in them and you have the file yourself 5. Slightly altered versions are often not recognized by the system 4.

Can I report a deepfake to the police?

Yes. In Germany you can file a report at any police station or online through your state's Internetwache. In Austria and Switzerland you can report to the police as well. Whether further legal steps are possible and which deadlines apply, a lawyer or a counselling service can tell you.

Where can I get help in Austria?

In Austria, ZARA offers counselling on online violence through its #GegenHassimNetz service (phone +43 1 929 13 99, beratung@zara.or.at) 6. Reporting to platforms works the same way as in Germany.

Where can I get help in Switzerland?

You can get counselling from the cantonal victim support centres (Opferhilfe), free and confidential, also via the number 142 (not an emergency number) 7. You can report to every platform through its own forms.

When do I need a lawyer?

As soon as you know who is behind it, the content stays online despite your reports, or your name is linked to it. A lawyer specializing in media or IT law can tell you which legal steps are possible in your case. Ask about the costs in the first conversation.

Where can I get support in Germany?

You don't have to get through this alone. In Germany, HateAid counsels people affected by digital violence and deals explicitly with sexual deepfakes. You can reach the counselling team by phone on (+49) 30 252 088 38, Mondays 10:00 to 13:00 and Thursdays 15:00 to 18:00, anonymously if you prefer 8. Whether HateAid also advises creators with commercial content, ask them directly.

Frequently asked questions

What now?

If this is happening to you right now, start with the evidence table and work through the steps one by one. It's okay to get help and hand tasks over. If you'd like a team for the future that acts with you in cases like this, our leak protection is part of our management. maevia works with English-speaking creators who live in Germany, Austria or Switzerland and write native-level English. To talk with us, apply now.