Politicians in another European country are urging for the extradition of a Canadian man linked to a well-known, pornographic website that showcased deepfake content of celebrities, public figures, and ordinary individuals. Members from three Dutch political parties – the VVD, GroenLinks-PvdA, and BoerBurgerBewegin (BBB) – are preparing to formally request David Do’s extradition for his role in the MrDeepFakes platform, as reported by Dutch newspaper AD.
Caroline van der Plas, leader of the BBB party, expressed the need to hold individuals like Do accountable, emphasizing the harm caused by their actions. In a collaborative effort between CBC’s Visual Investigation Unit, Bellingcat, Politiken, and Tjekdet, it was revealed that Do, a pharmacist employed by the Oak Valley Health network in Toronto, played a significant role in operating MrDeepFakes.com.
Following notifications from CBC News and its partners, the MrDeepFakes website was taken down on May 4, coinciding with the exposure of Do’s involvement. Van der Plas was among the numerous Dutch public figures whose non-consensual deepfake images and videos were shared on the platform, leading her to describe the experience as a form of digital violation.
The Netherlands prohibits the creation, possession, and distribution of deepfake pornographic content. Van der Plas shared that their justice minister assured her of efforts to explore Do’s extradition possibilities. Similarly, Danish MP Søren Søndergaard had previously sought Do’s extradition in Denmark, where some victims of MrDeepFakes also resided.
Although deepfake porn is not explicitly outlawed in Canada, extradition treaties with the Netherlands and Denmark allow for potential extradition based on violations of existing laws related to harassment or defamation. Do has not faced criminal charges in Canada and has remained silent on requests for comment.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has committed to criminalizing the production of non-consensual pornographic deepfakes, with the Department of Justice refraining from disclosing any discussions regarding extradition with the Netherlands or Denmark. The Prime Minister’s Office reiterated the government’s focus on safeguarding victims of sexual violence and enhancing penalties for unauthorized distribution of intimate images and sexual assault.
At its peak, MrDeepFakes boasted over 650,000 registered users and featured manipulated videos of Canadian personalities like Michael Bublé, Justin Trudeau, and Avril Lavigne, accumulating billions of views since its establishment in 2018. Following his exposure, Do was dismissed from his pharmacist position at Oak Valley Health, prompting an investigation by the Ontario College of Pharmacists into his alleged misconduct.