Man accused of creating computer-generated pornography from victims’ social media images arrested in Florida

LAKELAND, Fla. - Law enforcement officers have arrested a man for creating computer-generated porn after three people claim they found nude images of themselves online even though the photos originally showed them wearing clothes.   

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says the victims reported the images on March 13.

According to investigators, the computer-generated images were made from the original clothed images of the victims posted on social media platforms.

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Deputies say the suspect, later identified as 18-year-old Sammarth Gautam, used software to create the nude images by taking the victims' original photos and removing their clothing.

Pictured: Sammarth Gautam. Image is courtesy of HCSO. 

Gautam was taken into custody by the Lakeland Police Department on April 22 and is awaiting extradition to Hillsborough County. 

"This man's despicable actions will not be tolerated here in Hillsborough County," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "I am proud of our investigators who were able to get this man off our streets and justice for the victims whose privacy was disgustingly violated."

This type of crime is becoming more pervasive, but an artificial intelligence expert said the companies likely won’t be held accountable. 

"It's just like you don't blame a car manufacturer for someone's negligent driving. In a similar vein, blaming the AI company, the technology, for a nefarious use of the product when their terms and conditions specifically state that it's not to be used for that is erroneous in my opinion," said Dr. Jill Schiefelbein, an AI researcher. "When the eraser came along on the pencil, for example, right, people could alter documents. And so, from being able now to do that in digital form and at bigger levels, that's why people are getting scared." 

Still, HCSO says they will not tolerate misuse of the platform. 

"This is something new, only the third time in Florida, but even though it's a new crime, people have to realize we are going to have the same zero tolerance we have for this crime as we do any other crime," Chronister said.

Gautam has been charged with 16 counts of promotion of an altered sexual depiction without consent. 

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