Revealed: the names linked to ClothOff, the deepfake pornography app

In the year since the app was launched, the people running ClothOff have carefully guarded their anonymity, digitally distorting their voices to answer media questions and, in one case, using AI to generate an entirely fake person who they claimed was their CEO.

But a six-month investigation, conducted for a new Guardian podcast series called Black Box, can reveal the names of several people who have done work for ClothOff or who our investigation suggests are linked to the app.

Their trail leads to Belarus and Russia but passes through businesses registered in Europe and front companies based in the heart of London.

ClothOff, whose website receives more than 4m monthly visits, invites users to “undress anyone using AI”. The app can be accessed through a smartphone by clicking a button that confirms the user is over 18, and charges approximately £8.50 for 25 credits.