Man accused of creating sexualised deepfake images pleads not guilty in Brisbane court
Antonio Rotondo denied eleven stalking charges and five counts of distributing intimate images, including deepfakes of former students, at a Brisbane District Court hearing.
In Brisbane District Court, Antonio Rotondo entered a not-guilty plea to more than a dozen offences, including eleven stalking counts and five charges for distributing intimate images. Prosecutors allege that while residing in the Philippines, he sent an email in 2023 containing digitally altered pictures of current and former female students and staff from two private schools, removing clothing or replacing it with revealing lingerie.
Similar deepfake images of fashion-week models were reportedly sent to another recipient, and sixteen of the pictures were uploaded to a website he operated. During police questioning after his return to Australia, Rotondo acknowledged creating and sharing the images, describing the practice as a hobby and stating he found it amusing. He also expressed the view that deepfakes cannot be stopped. The case remains before the jury as the trial proceeds.
Why it matters
The case highlights legal challenges around deepfake technology and non-consensual image distribution.
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