A "deepfake" uses AI to generate a fabricated image or video, often by placing a real person's face onto explicit content they were never actually part of. It's a form of image-based sexual abuse — the specific technology is new, but the underlying harm (a sexual image of someone shared without their consent) is not.
Any public photo can be source material
A key thing worth understanding: the source material doesn't need to be explicit, or even revealing. A single ordinary photo — a social media profile picture, a headshot — can be enough for the technology to generate a fabricated explicit image. This means anyone with any photo online, which is nearly everyone, is a potential target, not just people who've shared intimate images themselves.
The Canadian legal picture
Non-consensual distribution of an intimate image is a Criminal Code offence in Canada under section 162.1, and courts have applied it to altered or fabricated images, not only authentic photos or recordings — the core legal principle is that distributing an intimate image of someone without their consent is a crime, regardless of how the image was produced. Law in this area is still developing alongside the technology, but this is genuinely a criminal matter, not merely a platform terms-of-service violation.
What to actually do
- Document before you report. Screenshot the content, the URL, and any usernames involved before it potentially gets taken down or the account disappears — this becomes your evidence.
- Report to the platform hosting the content. Most major platforms have specific policies against non-consensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated content, and dedicated reporting flows for it.
- Use StopNCII.org. This free tool creates a digital hash of an image without requiring you to upload it anywhere public, and shares that hash with participating platforms to help block re-uploads — useful both for real images and, on many participating platforms, deepfakes.
- Report to local police. This is a criminal matter in Canada, and police reports create an official record even if immediate enforcement is uncertain.
You're not the one who did anything wrong
It's common to feel a sense of shame or exposure that isn't proportionate to what actually happened — the responsibility sits entirely with whoever created and distributed the content, not with the person it depicts. If this has happened to you, our guide to responding if intimate images get leaked covers the emotional side alongside the practical steps, and a lot of it applies here too.
Frequently asked questions
Is creating or sharing deepfake porn of someone illegal in Canada?
Non-consensual distribution of an intimate image is a Criminal Code offence in Canada under section 162.1, and the law has been applied to fabricated or altered intimate images, not only authentic photos or videos. Enforcement and case law are still evolving as the technology changes, but the core legal principle — distributing an intimate image of someone without their consent is a crime — applies.
What can I actually do if a deepfake of me is circulating?
Document everything (screenshots, URLs, usernames) before reporting, report the content to the platform it's hosted on, use StopNCII.org to help prevent re-uploads across participating platforms, and report to local police — this is a criminal matter, not just a platform policy violation.
Is it my fault if someone made a deepfake using my photos?
No. Deepfakes can be created from ordinary, non-explicit public photos — a social media profile picture is enough source material. Having any photo of yourself online is not consent to have it manipulated, and the responsibility lies entirely with whoever created and shared it.
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