Sony Music requests removal of over 260,000 AI deepfake tracks

Sony Music Group has requested the removal of more than 260,000 AI-generated deepfake tracks from digital platforms. This figure nearly doubles the 135,000 takedown requests the company had reported approximately six months ago.

The company stated that these tracks imitate the voices and likenesses of artists without permission, which harms creators, misleads fans, and undermines the ethical use of artificial intelligence. Sony noted that fraudulent streams divert revenue away from legitimate artists and songwriters.

While Sony can request removals, the responsibility for hosting and managing content lies with platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music. The company described the ongoing effort to combat these deepfakes as an “uphill struggle” and expressed the expectation that platforms will act quickly to prevent the same content from reappearing. Affected artists include high-profile figures such as Michael Jackson, Queen, Harry Styles, Adele, and Britney Spears.