Kendal, Indonesia – Kendal Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit has dismantled an illegal business involving the use of deepfake technology to create pornographic videos. A 46-year-old man identified by the initials ABH, a resident of Jombang District, East Java, was arrested after offering facial manipulation services to insert clients’ chosen faces into adult film scenes.
The case was uncovered during a cyber patrol in early June 2025, where officers discovered an online account promoting services to swap faces in pornographic content. Clients were instructed to send photos and payment via Telegram, after which ABH would alter videos sourced from adult sites.
“The suspect edited adult videos by replacing actors’ faces with client-provided images,” explained Kendal Police Chief AKBP Hendry Susanto Sianipar during a press conference on June 4.
Police apprehended ABH at his home and seized several pieces of evidence, including a self-built CPU, monitors, mobile phones, and other equipment used to produce the videos. The confiscated items are being examined in a forensic lab to assist in the investigation.
ABH faces multiple charges under Indonesian law, including:
Article 30 jo. Article 4 paragraphs (1), (2)
Article 35 jo. Article 9 of Law No. 4 of 2008 on Pornography
Article 45(1) jo. Article 27(1) of Law No. 1 of 2024 on ITE (Electronic Information and Transactions)
Police Issue Strong Warning on Tech Misuse
Kombes Pol Artanto, Head of Public Relations for Central Java Police, issued a stern warning:
“Technology is a double-edged sword. It should be used wisely, not to violate the law or morality,” he said, adding that cyber patrols would be intensified to protect digital spaces.
He emphasized that digital traces are never truly erased, and creating or sharing deepfake pornography could not only result in legal consequences but also destroy people’s reputations.
