Three Arrested for Creating AI-Generated Nude Photos of 150 Women [Kasargod, Kerala]

(Reported as seen)

In a shocking case from Kasargod, Kerala, three young men have been arrested for creating and distributing fake nude images of over 150 women using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. The accused, identified as Sibin Lukose (21), Ebin Tom Joseph (18), and Justin Jacob (21), were taken into custody by the Chittarikkal police station but were later released on station bail.

For the past one and a half years, the trio had been stealing pictures of women from their village and surrounding areas from social media. They then used AI software to alter these images, creating explicit, nude versions. In cases where women did not post their pictures online, the accused used a digital camera to photograph them. Among their victims were at least forty female students from their school and women who attended church services on Sundays.

The explicit photos were shared on a private Instagram account accessible only to a select group of users. The heinous activities of the accused were uncovered on June 11th, when Sibin visited a friend’s house. While browsing through Sibin’s phone, the friend discovered explicit pictures of women he recognized. Alarmed, he copied some of the photos and informed his relatives and a local panchayat member, who is also a Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader.

Following the discovery, the panchayat member reported the matter to the police. The Station House Officer of Chittarikkal confirmed that the accused were booked under Section 67(a) of the Information Technology Act for transmitting material containing sexually explicit acts in electronic form.

The police investigation revealed that Sibin and Ebin created the images and forwarded them to Justin. Although Sibin and Ebin had deleted the photos from their devices before the police arrived, Justin had not. Police recovered around 40 explicit photographs of their schoolmates from his phone. The accused had also targeted women attending church and those participating in religious processions.

The revelation of this crime has caused widespread anxiety in the small hamlet. On June 16th, an awareness meeting was organized by the community to discuss the matter, attended by at least 210 people. The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) assured the community that the complainant’s privacy would be protected and that the matter would be thoroughly investigated. The police expect more victims to come forward, as four have already filed complaints.

The Cyber Police have taken the offenders’ cell phones for forensic analysis to gather further evidence. According to the panchayat member who lodged the complaint, Ebin failed to pass Class 12 this year, while Sibin and Justin earned their living by cleaning private buses. If found guilty, the accused could face up to seven years in prison and fines up to Rs. 10 lakh.

This case highlights the urgent need for greater awareness and preventive measures against the misuse of AI technology for such malicious activities. The community and law enforcement agencies must work together to ensure justice for the victims and to prevent similar incidents in the future.