Top Hollywood Law Firm Launches Service to Combat Celebrity Deepfakes

With deepfakes becoming increasingly prevalent, celebrities have struggled to keep up with the rapid proliferation of fake videos and images. Notable figures such as Taylor Swift, Scarlett Johansson, and politicians like Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have all been targeted.

Now, a prominent Hollywood law firm, Venable LLP, is addressing this issue head-on. The firm, which boasts clients like Swift, Peyton Manning, and “La La Land” producer Automatik, has introduced Takedown. This program aims to identify and remove unauthorized deepfake content and pirated material online. It was developed by Venable Blue, the firm’s cybersecurity and privacy consulting arm.

Takedown is available to both new and existing Venable clients and is designed to protect individuals and companies from the spread of illegal and harmful content. The program also guards against disinformation and false endorsements, as well as copyright and trademark infringements. Taylor Swift, a client of Venable for over ten years, recently utilized the firm’s services to prevent a college student from tracking her private jet.

“This service is critically needed, especially for high-profile individuals who are often the primary targets of malicious actors,” says Hemu Nigam, a partner at Venable LLP who was instrumental in creating Venable Blue. “Current conditions allow these malicious actors to gain visibility and exploit the public, who may not realize they’re engaging with deepfake content or fake endorsements. Both celebrities and the public can fall victim to this.”

Nigam, who has previously served as chief security officer at Fox and NewsCorp and VP of worldwide internet enforcement at the Motion Picture Association, explains that threat actors can be anyone from disgruntled fans to nation-states aiming to spread disinformation. Such actions can cause severe financial and reputational damage.

Earlier this year, fake, sexually explicit images of Taylor Swift spread on social media, with one post receiving nearly 50 million views. Additionally, Scarlett Johansson’s likeness was used to promote an AI app without her consent. Furthermore, fake images of Donald Trump being arrested and Kamala Harris in compromising situations with Jeffrey Epstein have also circulated widely.

Venable is well-positioned to tackle these issues due to its significant presence in the entertainment industry. Founded 124 years ago and based in Washington, D.C., the firm expanded to Los Angeles in 2006 and has represented entities like ViacomCBS and Boardwalk Pictures.

As Hollywood confronts the deepfake problem, companies are increasingly turning to AI to combat AI-generated fakes. For instance, WME partnered with Seattle-based software firm Loti in April to flag unauthorized online content. Venable Blue’s Takedown also relies on human intervention, working closely with clients through every step—from identifying threats and removing content to collaborating with law enforcement when needed.

Beyond takedown requests, Venable Blue offers 24/7 monitoring of emerging or recurring threats. They also provide metric and data analysis, which includes quantifying the number of harmful posts removed, identifying where harmful content originated, and recognizing top repeat offenders.

Although Venable Blue does not disclose their client list, Nigam notes that a beta version of the program has already been used to combat attacks against high-profile actors, athletes, and entertainers.

Source: Hollywood Reporter, Yahoo News