More charges possible for accused in deepfake pornography case, police say - Nunatsiaq News

A Nova Scotia man with ties to Nunavut is facing 79 criminal charges related to the production of non-consensual deepfake pornography, with authorities warning that the count of alleged victims is continuing to climb. As of late May 2024, investigators have identified approximately 59 individuals targeted by the suspect, Stephen Lowe, who remains in custody at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre.

What happened

The investigation into 60-year-old Stephen Lowe involves the systematic use of high-end computing to transpose images of real people onto the faces of performers in pornographic videos and photos. According to the Ottawa Police Service, the activity is classified as technology-facilitated sexual violence. Beyond the creation of deepfake pornography, the charges against Lowe include harassment, uttering threats, and the possession of obscene material and child pornography.

Lowe was initially charged in February with harassment and uttering threats against two women. Following further investigation, police laid additional charges in April, bringing the total to 79. While police have acknowledged that approximately 10 women from Nunavut have come forward with allegations, no specific charges have been filed yet in connection to those reports. Inspector Pascal Labine confirmed that because the investigation is ongoing, authorities anticipate both the number of identified victims and the total volume of charges will continue to increase. Lowe made a court appearance on May 29 and is scheduled to return to court on June 12.