06/04/2026
Wife of Alleged Deepfake Harasser Speaks Out, Files for Divorce After Arrest
Gwen Frankton of Maitland, Nova Scotia, is speaking publicly about the devastating fallout after her husband of 21 years, Stephen Lowe, was arrested and charged in what police describe as a large-scale AI deepfake investigation involving dozens of Canadian women.
Frankton says she was blindsided when police arrived at their home on a snowy February morning and arrested Lowe while he sat at their dining room table repairing one of her earrings. She recalls having no warning signs that anything was wrong during what she described as a loving and peaceful marriage. According to Frankton, Lowe spent time in his home office and gaming room, volunteered with local youth programs, and appeared to be the same helpful and supportive partner she had known for more than two decades.
Lowe, 60, faces 79 charges, including harassment, uttering threats, possessing and publishing obscene material, and child sexual abuse material offences. Police allege he was involved in creating and distributing AI-generated sexual and violent deepfakes using photographs of real Canadian women taken from social media accounts. The manipulated images allegedly depicted women in graphic scenarios involving r**e, torture, bo***ge, kidnapping, and other forms of abuse.
While court documents currently identify up to 25 victims, investigators with the Ottawa Police Service now believe more than 50 women may have been affected. Police have indicated additional victims and charges may yet emerge as the investigation continues. A second accused, Peter Van Beek of Ontario, is also facing charges connected to the case.
Just four days after Lowe’s arrest, Frankton says she informed him she would be filing for divorce. She recalls telling him during a phone call from jail that she could no longer support him, and says he responded that he understood. Since then, she has struggled to process what happened, describing each newly identified victim as another emotional blow.
Although she is not accused of any wrongdoing and is not listed as a victim in the case, Frankton says the experience has left her traumatized. Because she is not formally recognized as a victim, she does not have access to many of the support services and resources available through the justice system. She believes there needs to be greater recognition and support for family members whose lives are shattered by serious criminal allegations against loved ones.
Frankton is also using her experience to advocate for stronger laws targeting AI-generated abuse. She supports Bill C-16, the proposed Protecting Victims Act, which would specifically criminalize the non-consensual sharing of deepfakes. Police have acknowledged that the absence of such legislation complicated their investigation and required officers to rely on a variety of existing Criminal Code provisions to pursue charges.
As the criminal case proceeds through the courts, Frankton says her primary concern remains the women allegedly targeted by the deepfake images. By speaking publicly, she hopes to support those victims, raise awareness about the harms caused by AI-generated abuse, and encourage lawmakers to strengthen protections against this rapidly evolving form of exploitation.
