From the newsroom

The quality and accessibility of deep fake images and videos has grown exponentially, leading to harmful abuses of the technology with real-life consequences for people — the vast majority of which are women.

Digital cameras ushered in an era of blackmail and revenge porn, the nonconsensual sharing of intimate images, which is illegal. 

In many ways, it feels like generative artificial intelligence has opened Pandora's Box on the topic. Deep fakes have created a landscape where all a perpetrator needs is an image of someone's face to create a harmful, damaging video of them.

It's why then-Rep. Tina Orwall (D-Des Moines) sponsored a bill, signed into law last year, that criminalized disclosing fabricated intimate images. It put deepfakes in the same box as real intimate images.

It's the law that opened the door to the criminal investigation of a detective at Whatcom County Sheriff's Office for allegedly creating and sharing a fabricated intimate image of a coworker.

I dug in deeper to better understand the law, why it was created and what other government bodies are doing to protect residents. You can read more here. 

Today's news

Port of Bellingham Commissioner Michael Shepard, center, speaks during a meeting in June 2024. Shepard has announced he will run for state senate in 2026. (Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)

Port of Bellingham commissioner Michael Shepard announces run for state senate 

New law criminalizes disclosure of AI-generated sexual images, videos

Bellingham considers options for bike lane on entire Holly Street corridor 

How should Bellingham's plan for indoor recreation play out?

Flood watch active for Whatcom, Skagit through Friday afternoon

'Epicenter' of Edison art scene to close after two decades

Young athletes meet Mariners pro Cal Raleigh at Mount Vernon baseball camp

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Weekend catch-up 

34-year-old man dies after jumping from moving tour bus on I-5

Chart-topping Lynden podcaster exposes marketing campaigns that defined our world

Whatcom County warns of slower snow removal, pothole repairs amid budget cuts

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