PersonaShield Gives Creators Control Over Their Likeness in the AI Era
- Jun 25
- 4 min read
Las Vegas, NV, June 25, 2026 – PersonaShield today announced the launch of its new platform designed to help creators, influencers, and public figures take control of how their images and likeness are used in the age of artificial intelligence. As generative AI tools make it easy to deepfake content and fabricate likenesses, this community has limited visibility or control over how their identity is being used, causing both reputational and financial harm.
The scale of the problem is no longer hypothetical. A 2023 study by Home Security Heroes found that the number of deepfake videos online grew 550 percent between 2019 and 2023, reaching more than 95,000 in a single year. The volume has accelerated since, with creators, celebrities, and public figures absorbing the bulk of unauthorized use, whether through association with fringe causes or political content, fake product endorsements, or inappropriate and offensive representations. Social media platforms and technology companies have struggled to enforce consistently, leaving creators among the most exposed to AI-driven exploitation.
PersonaShield is more than a takedown platform. Creators upload their images, set guidelines for how those images can and should be used, and define what is permitted and what isn't. From there, the platform handles takedown requests on their behalf. Fans and followers can log in to find the creators they follow and pay for authorized use of their image and likeness, opening a new path to monetization while giving creators real control over their online presence.
"AI isn't the problem. The problem is that nobody asked. Someone put your likeness on their channel, used it to sell a product, or built it into a campaign or cause, and never asked your permission. Your likeness carries your reputation, your livelihood, and your brand," explained Phillip Shoemaker, founder and CEO of PersonaShield. "We are giving creators back control, with the ability to decide how their image and likeness can be used, and making it easier to identify and approve or request a takedown of AI-generated content, while also providing a healthy pathway for fans and followers to create content and put a little extra money in their pockets."
From protection to participation
Unauthorized AI-generated content has rapidly expanded across entertainment, social media, and commerce, impacting everyone from global celebrities to independent creators. Deepfakes are now routinely used for scams, fake endorsements, and reputational harm, while platforms struggle to keep pace with enforcement. At the same time, fan-created AI content is growing, often without clear rules or pathways for creators to participate.
PersonaShield addresses both sides of the problem with a single system that allows creators to define how their likeness can be used, enforce those rules across platforms, enable licensed, brand-safe fan creation, and generate revenue from authorized use.
This unified approach reflects a broader shift in the market, moving from blocking content to governing and controlling how it is created and shared.
A new category: Likeness governance
PersonaShield introduces what it calls a permission layer for AI identity, an infrastructure system that sits between AI generation, platforms, and creators.
The platform is built on three integrated capabilities:
Consent & rights registry, verified identity with machine-readable rules defining what is allowed, restricted, and monetized
Protection integration, automated monitoring and enforcement that reduces the time between violation and removal
Brand-safe creation, a licensed environment for fan-generated content with provenance and revenue sharing.
These capabilities work together as one system, where the same rules that trigger enforcement also define what is allowed to exist.
Built by a leader in platform governance
PersonaShield was founded by Phillip Shoemaker, former Senior Director of App Store Review at Apple, where he built and led the global organization responsible for enforcing policies across one of the world's largest digital ecosystems. Shoemaker also founded Identity.org, a non-profit informational hub and advocacy site focused on digital rights, privacy, and how AI impacts human identity online. His experience shaping platform rules and enforcement at scale informs PersonaShield's approach to one of AI's most pressing challenges, restoring control and trust in digital identity.
Shoemaker is also publishing his first book, Unbreakable: Secure Your Digital Life in a World Built to Breach You, with pre-orders open now and an October release date.
Your likeness, your rules
PersonaShield is launching with a focus on image-based content and initial platform integrations. The company is currently onboarding a group of founding creators to help shape the platform and define how likeness rights are managed in the AI era.
"Creators don't want AI to go away," Shoemaker added. "They want a say in how it's used. This is about turning identity from something you defend into something you control."
Availability: PersonaShield is now available. Creators can sign up here.
VidCon 2026: PersonaShield is hosting a talk at VidCon at the Anaheim Convention Center on Saturday, June 27, from 2:45 to 3:15 pm. The session, hosted by Phillip Shoemaker, is titled "Who Owns Your Face In the Age of AI," and will feature a demo of the PersonaShield platform. To learn more or register, visit the VidCon Anaheim full schedule.
About PersonaShield
PersonaShield is building the infrastructure for likeness rights in the AI era. The platform enables creators and public figures to define, enforce, and monetize how their image is used across AI systems and digital platforms. By combining consent, enforcement, and licensed creation into one system, PersonaShield transforms identity into a governed and participatory asset.
Media contact: Lauren Hendrickson, hello@personashield.com, www.personashield.com
