The Alberta government plans to amend existing legislation this fall to allow victims of deepfake intimate image sharing to pursue civil lawsuits against perpetrators.
Technology Minister Nate Glubish announced the proposed changes, which would expand current laws to cover fake intimate images created using artificial intelligence technology. The legislation would also include protections against malicious audio recordings.
"These images, known as deepfakes, can cause people serious harm," Glubish said, emphasizing that the legal changes aim to create an additional layer of protection for victims.
The announcement comes as deepfake technology becomes increasingly sophisticated and accessible, allowing users to create convincing fake images and videos with relative ease. Current Alberta legislation does not specifically address AI-generated content.
Advocacy groups welcome changes
Kristine Cassie, chief executive officer of the Chinook Sexual Assault Centre in southern Alberta, expressed support for the government's initiative.
"I'm happy the province is looking to step in," Cassie said. "Alberta's rules around deepfakes are lagging compared to other provinces."
Cassie emphasized the importance of ensuring the legislation has enforcement mechanisms that will make a meaningful difference for victims.
The proposed amendments would bring Alberta in line with other provinces that have already updated their laws to address emerging AI technologies and their potential for abuse.
Glubish indicated the government aims to introduce the legislation during the fall sitting of the Alberta Legislature.
The changes would complement existing criminal code provisions while providing victims with additional civil remedies to seek damages and injunctive relief.
This story was reported with information from Global News.
