Canadian Pharmacist Unmasked as Operator of World’s Largest Deepfake Porn Site

A CBC News investigation has exposed the man behind MrDeepFakes.com, a massive online hub for non-consensual deepfake porn. The operator? A Canadian pharmacist named David Do, who until now led what seemed like an ordinary life near Toronto.

The website was taken offline permanently just days after CBC, Bellingcat, and Danish outlets Politiken and Tjekdet contacted Do. The site once hosted over 70,000 explicit AI-generated videos and images of celebrities, influencers, and private citizens. It was the largest deepfake porn site on the internet, with more than two billion views since 2018.

Pharmacist by Day, Deepfake Kingpin by Night

David Do earned $121,000 a year as a pharmacist at Markham Stouffville Hospital. But forensic analysis, online posts, and exposed login data now link him directly to decades-old usernames, emails, and cryptocurrency activity tied to MrDeepFakes.

Do posted under aliases like DPFKS, Aznrico, and Paperbags—handles that created, uploaded, and coordinated custom deepfake porn requests. He uploaded over 150 videos, some depicting violent or disturbing sexual content involving celebrities like Scarlett Johansson, Taylor Swift, and Emma Watson.

Despite attempts to hide his identity, data breaches, password reuse, and forum posts helped journalists connect the dots.

The Human Cost: Victims Speak Out

Canadian YouTuber Sarah Z. was one of many private individuals whose face was deepfaked onto pornographic content without her consent. “It’s quite violating,” she told CBC. “These are real people … suffering reputational and psychological damage.”

Victims ranged from social media influencers with small followings to celebrities and politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ivanka Trump, and even Greta Thunberg.

TNA Hall of Famer Gail Kim, also targeted on the site, called the experience “scary” and warned about the mental toll this kind of abuse inflicts. “A lot of young people commit suicide because they’re shamed for things that are absolutely not them,” she said.

Not Just Celebrities: Real-World Harm for Real Women

Users on MrDeepFakes frequently requested deepfake porn of their wives, girlfriends, or exes. Despite site rules against targeting private individuals, CBC found multiple examples where creators ignored these policies.

Forum posts openly advertised custom videos priced between $50 to $400, depending on quality. And thanks to advancing technology, new “nudify” apps now make it easier than ever to produce deepfake porn from a single photo.

Exploiting Loopholes in Canadian Law

Despite the harm, there is no Canadian federal law criminalizing non-consensual deepfake porn of adults. Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to change this, calling it a priority for Parliament.

In the meantime, some provinces like British Columbia and Saskatchewan have introduced civil remedies, allowing victims to sue for damages and seek content takedowns. But experts argue this patchwork approach leaves most victims vulnerable.

Legal expert Moira Aikenhead stressed that meaningful change will only come from federal action. “Only Parliament can create criminal laws in Canada,” she noted.

Shutdown After Confrontation

When CBC confronted Do at his workplace in April, he denied knowing about the site and refused further comment. Shortly after, his Facebook, Airbnb, and other personal accounts were deleted.

On May 4, MrDeepFakes.com was permanently shut down. A message on the site read:
“A critical service provider has terminated service permanently… We will not be relaunching.”

The Fight Against Deepfake Porn Isn’t Over

Although MrDeepFakes is gone, experts warn the technology—and abuse—aren’t going away. Deepfake porn now makes up 99% of deepfakes online, and its use has grown over 550% since 2019, according to cybersecurity reports.

“These aren’t just fake images,” said Dalhousie law professor Suzie Dunn. “They’re tools of harassment, used to humiliate and silence women.”

Do you think Canada should pass a federal law criminalizing deepfake porn? Why or why not?

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