Lee College Employee Charged with Creating AI-Generated Deepfake Video
Severity: Low (Score: 36.9)
Sources: Abc13, Fox26Houston
Summary
Rigoberto Silva Ruiz, a 30-year-old employee at Lee College, faces a misdemeanor charge for allegedly creating a deepfake video of a woman without her consent. The incident reportedly occurred on or around April 1, 2026, when his then-girlfriend discovered the video while accessing his phone. The AI-generated video depicted the complainant in a sexualized scenario that did not occur in reality. Ruiz reportedly confessed to creating the video for personal use. The complainant confirmed that the original photo used was authentic and taken from her social media, but she did not consent to the video's creation. Ruiz has been placed on administrative leave by Lee College, which is cooperating with the ongoing investigation. Legal experts note that this case may test Texas laws regarding AI-generated content. The case remains under investigation, and it is unclear if additional charges will be filed. Key Points: • Rigoberto Ruiz is charged with creating a non-consensual AI deepfake video. • The incident was discovered by Ruiz's then-girlfriend while reviewing his phone. • This case may set a precedent for Texas laws on AI-generated content.