Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, 21, recently became the target of a deepfake porn attack. Her face was morphed onto the bodies of adult actors using AI, with videos circulating on platforms like MrDeepFakes, which has now been shut down.
The FBI collaborated with Dutch authorities to remove the websites hosting these videos, according to the Daily Beast. Alongside Catharina-Amalia, approximately 70 other Dutch women were also targeted. So far, no arrests have been reported.
Dutch news outlet Seher Og Hor reported that Catharina-Amalia had a “starring role” in the deepfakes. This is not the first incident—similar morphed videos of the princess surfaced in 2022.
Who is Princess Catharina-Amalia?
Born 7 December 2003 in The Hague, Catharina-Amalia is the eldest daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima and the future queen of the Netherlands. She has held the title Princess of Orange, given to the heir apparent, since her father’s accession in April 2013.
Academic Focus on Deepfakes
Ironically, Princess Catharina-Amalia has studied the very issue she was attacked over. She is enrolled in the Politics, Psychology, Law, and Economics (PPLE) program at the University of Amsterdam, which she began in 2022.
For her bachelor’s thesis, titled:
“Beyond Disclosure: Bridging the Gap Between the Artificial Intelligence Act and the Charter of Fundamental Rights with Deepfaked Bodies”,
She explored the tension between AI legislation and European fundamental rights, focusing specifically on deepfaked content.
Authorities Take Action
The FBI and Dutch authorities coordinated to remove websites hosting illegal content, highlighting the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes to public figures. No arrests have been made yet, but the case underscores the risks of AI misuse and the importance of legal protections.
