Laconia police officer deepfake video — Apr 2024
A New Hampshire jury acquitted a man in a landmark trial involving deepfake technology after he altered body camera footage to parody a police officer
- Incident date
- Apr 2024
- Target
- Laconia police officer
In a first-of-its-kind trial in the Granite State, a jury found 22-year-old Jaxen Cole not guilty regarding his use of a deepfake video. The case centered on altered police body camera footage that the defendant argued was intended solely as a work of parody.
What happened
In February 2024, Jaxen Cole created and posted a video to social media featuring footage from his own 2024 booking. The video was altered to depict the arresting Laconia police officer fawning over Cole, claiming to be a fan, and requesting an autograph. After the officer discovered the video, he contacted Cole and asked him not to publish it, expressing concerns that the content was embarrassing and could lead to disciplinary action from his department. Despite these requests, Cole proceeded to post the video online.
The state prosecuted the case on the grounds that Cole intended to harm or embarrass the officer through the use of the deepfake technology. Conversely, the defense argued that the video was meant purely as entertainment for Cole's followers and noted that neither the officer nor the City of Laconia were explicitly named in the content. Following the acquittal on April 8, 2024, Cole expressed relief at the verdict and stated his hope that the outcome would influence future legal proceedings involving deepfakes.