Australian Man Jailed for Using AI to Create Fake Nude Images of Schoolgirls and Women
A Brisbane court sentenced Antonio Rotondo, 56, to two years in prison after a jury found him guilty of stalking, distributing intimate images, and producing child exploitation material using AI-generated deepfakes.
Key points
- Antonio Rotondo, 56, was sentenced to two years in jail on 3 September 2026 by Brisbane District Court after being convicted on 17 counts.
- A jury found him guilty of 11 counts of stalking, five counts of distributing intimate images, and one count of distributing child exploitation material.
- Rotondo used an AI deepfake program to alter real photographs of women and girls, adding nudity or sexual elements without their knowledge or consent.
- One victim was 13 years old at the time; her mother now carries the burden of deciding how and when to tell her daughter what happened.
- Victims described lasting psychological harm, with many still affected by the offending at the time of sentencing.
A former software developer in Brisbane has been sentenced to prison for using an artificial intelligence program to turn ordinary photographs of women and schoolgirls into fake sexual images and then emailing them to schools and a fashion event organiser.
Antonio Rotondo, 56, was found guilty on Tuesday, 2 September 2026, following a six-day trial in Brisbane District Court. Judge John Allen sentenced him the following day.
What exactly did Rotondo do?
Rotondo downloaded publicly available photos of female staff, students, and models, then used an AI deepfake tool to alter them. A deepfake program is software that uses artificial intelligence to replace or alter elements of a real image, in this case adding nudity or sexualised content to pictures of real, identifiable women and girls.
He emailed the modified images to administrators at multiple schools and to organisers of a fashion show in September 2023. At least one image involved a 13-year-old girl, which led to the child exploitation material charge.
Rotondo represented himself at trial and pleaded not guilty. At sentencing, he argued he should face only two charges because he sent only two emails. He also claimed his conduct was not criminal at the time. Judge Allen rejected both arguments, pointing to Rotondo's "clear lack of remorse and insight" as a reason to consider stronger deterrence.
| Charge | Number of counts | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Stalking | 11 | Guilty |
| Distributing intimate images | 5 | Guilty |
| Distributing child exploitation material | 1 | Guilty |
| Total sentence | 2 years' imprisonment | Handed down 3 Sep 2026 |
What did victims say?
The harm has been lasting. In victim impact statements read aloud in court, women described humiliation, violated privacy, and the cost of psychological counselling. Several said their families had also been affected.
One victim said she did not blame the technology itself, only the people who misuse it. "I do not want to be afraid of photography, being photographed or sharing photographs," she told the court. Another said: "What frightens me is knowing that an ordinary photograph can be taken out of my control and transformed into sexual material without my consent."
The mother of the 13-year-old told the court her daughter has not seen the image. She now carries the weight of keeping that secret while trying to decide how, and when, to tell her.
Judge Allen acknowledged that the images fell short of the most extreme material sometimes seen in such cases, but found the ongoing harm to victims was clear.
What should ordinary people take away from this?
This case, first reported in detail by The Age, shows that a normal photo shared publicly online can be misused with tools that are increasingly cheap and easy to find. You do not need to have done anything wrong to become a target.
If you or someone you know discovers that intimate images have been created or shared without consent, Australian state police forces and the eSafety Commissioner can help with removal requests and support referrals. Documenting the images without viewing them more than necessary, and seeking legal advice early, are practical first steps.
