SpindriftA man used artificial intelligence to create deepfake naked images of his high school friend and shared them with people he knew.
Callum Brooks, 25, altered two social media pictures posted by the woman on June 24, 2022.
Brooks used photoshop software to make the woman appear in a “state of undress” without her knowledge or consent.
Brooks, of Glasgow’s Easterhouse, claimed that there was “no sexual element” to his actions which was accepted by the Crown.
The first offender stated that he carried out the crime to show what the software did.
Brooks pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to disclosing a photograph of the woman in an intimate situation without her consent.
The case is one of the first of its kind to appear in a Scottish court.
The court heard that Brooks and the woman had been friends at high school and remained in contact on social media.
Prior to the crime, Brooks obtained a software application which altered images using artificial intelligence (AI).
Prosecutor Katie Malcolm said: “Brooks took two images from the woman’s Instagram account which she uploaded online in which she was fully clothed.
“Brooks then altered the images so that they showed the woman to be in a state of undress.
“One was a full length image and the other was from the waist up.
“Brooks then sent the images to two friends.”
The hearing was told that the woman “knew nothing” about the images.
She was asked by one of Brooks’ friends in February 2024 about her knowledge of the images which were shown to her.
Ms Malcolm added: “She was immediately embarrassed and humiliated.
“She confirmed that the images were lifelike and the matter was reported to the police.”
Brooks was arrested and told officers: “It was really just pettiness on the part of people – I know I shouldn’t have done that, I shouldn’t have done Photoshop.”
He stated that one of his friends requested the images while the other did not.
Gerry Devaney, defending, told the court that Brooks had fell out with one of his friends after the images had been sent.
The lawyer added: “The friend drew the attention of the woman who was unaware of the situation and the friend showed it to her.
“The intention was to show what the software did – it was fairly novel at the time and he took advantage which he much regrets.
“There was no significant sexual element – this was the behaviour on the part of a boy towards people he thought were his friends and he has come to regret it.”
Sheriff Anna Reid fined Brooks £335.
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