Latest news with #Fam
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
GTA pharmacist allegedly behind deepfake porn site now on leave, says hospital network CEO
A hospital pharmacist alleged to be a key figure behind a popular deepfake porn site is now on leave, according to the CEO of the Toronto-area hospital network that employs him. Last week, CBC News's visual investigations unit — in collaboration with open-source investigative outlet Bellingcat and Danish publications Politiken and Tjekdet — published an investigation that found David Do, a pharmacist in the Oak Valley Health network, played a prominent role in the operations of MrDeepFakes, which went offline this month, was the most popular site globally for deepfake porn. The site hosted tens of thousands of non-consensual and sometimes violent deepfake videos and images of celebrities, politicians, social media influencers and private citizens, including Canadians. Do's alleged role in the site was pieced together using data from the web, public records and forensic analysis of the site. In light of the allegations, Do is not working at Markham Stouffville Hospital and Uxbridge Hospital while an internal investigation is conducted, Oak Valley Health president and CEO Mark Fam told CBC Radio's Metro Morning Tuesday. "He's off right now," Fam said, without going into detail about the nature of Do's leave. "I want to be clear that as an organization, we unequivocally condemn the creation or distribution of any form of violent or non-consensual sexual imagery," Fam said. "We have to do our investigation to understand the allegations brought forward." Fam said hospital staff and patients have raised concerns since the allegations against Do were made public. "Our focus right now is taking care of our team," Fam said. Oak Valley's internal investigators are working closely with the Ontario College of Pharmacists as they look into the allegations, he added. The Ontario College of Pharmacists' code of ethics says no member should engage in "any form of harassment," including "displaying or circulating offensive images or materials." The college previously told CBC News the allegations "are extremely serious" and that it was "taking immediate steps to look into this matter further and determine the necessary actions we need to take to protect the public." WATCH | How a Toronto pharmacist secretly helped run a notorious porn site: Do has not responded to multiple requests for comment emailed by CBC News over a period of several weeks. When a reporter hand-delivered a letter to Do at Markham Stouffville Hospital, where he was working as an in-patient pharmacist on April 11, he said, "I don't know anything about that." On May 5, a CBC News reporter again approached Do in an attempt to interview him about his role in the website. Do told the reporter he didn't want to be recorded and that he was busy, before driving away in his vehicle. went offline on May 4, just before the findings of the joint investigation were published. Although sharing non-consensual deepfake porn is illegal in several countries, including Australia, South Korea and the U.K., it's not a crime in Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to pass a law criminalizing it during his federal election campaign.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
GTA pharmacist allegedly behind deepfake porn site now on leave, says hospital network CEO
A hospital pharmacist alleged to be a key figure behind a popular deepfake porn site is now on leave, according to the CEO of the Toronto-area hospital network that employs him. Last week, CBC News's visual investigations unit — in collaboration with open-source investigative outlet Bellingcat and Danish publications Politiken and Tjekdet — published an investigation that found David Do, a pharmacist in the Oak Valley Health network, played a prominent role in the operations of MrDeepFakes, which went offline this month, was the most popular site globally for deepfake porn. The site hosted tens of thousands of non-consensual and sometimes violent deepfake videos and images of celebrities, politicians, social media influencers and private citizens, including Canadians. Do's alleged role in the site was pieced together using data from the web, public records and forensic analysis of the site. In light of the allegations, Do is not working at Markham Stouffville Hospital and Uxbridge Hospital while an internal investigation is conducted, Oak Valley Health president and CEO Mark Fam told CBC Radio's Metro Morning Tuesday. "He's off right now," Fam said, without going into detail about the nature of Do's leave. "I want to be clear that as an organization, we unequivocally condemn the creation or distribution of any form of violent or non-consensual sexual imagery," Fam said. "We have to do our investigation to understand the allegations brought forward." Fam said hospital staff and patients have raised concerns since the allegations against Do were made public. "Our focus right now is taking care of our team," Fam said. Oak Valley's internal investigators are working closely with the Ontario College of Pharmacists as they look into the allegations, he added. The Ontario College of Pharmacists' code of ethics says no member should engage in "any form of harassment," including "displaying or circulating offensive images or materials." The college previously told CBC News the allegations "are extremely serious" and that it was "taking immediate steps to look into this matter further and determine the necessary actions we need to take to protect the public." WATCH | How a Toronto pharmacist secretly helped run a notorious porn site: Do has not responded to multiple requests for comment emailed by CBC News over a period of several weeks. When a reporter hand-delivered a letter to Do at Markham Stouffville Hospital, where he was working as an in-patient pharmacist on April 11, he said, "I don't know anything about that." On May 5, a CBC News reporter again approached Do in an attempt to interview him about his role in the website. Do told the reporter he didn't want to be recorded and that he was busy, before driving away in his vehicle. went offline on May 4, just before the findings of the joint investigation were published. Although sharing non-consensual deepfake porn is illegal in several countries, including Australia, South Korea and the U.K., it's not a crime in Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to pass a law criminalizing it during his federal election campaign.
Miami Herald
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Broward school board's lone conservative member resigns, cites ‘toxic environment'
Brenda Fam, the sole conservative voice on the Broward County School Board, has resigned after two and a half years. Her final day as a board member is May 1. Fam, an attorney, announced her resignation Tuesday in an explosive letter to Superintendant Howard Hepburn in which Fam lambasted what she called a 'toxic environment' within the district. 'I cannot, with a good conscience, serve a school district that lacks full transparency, that does not live up to the highest moral and educational standards for students, parents and educators, nor live up to their fiscal responsibilities,' Fam wrote in the letter. 'It is time for me to move forward to where my contribution is welcomed, and my background and knowledge can bring about an effective and positive change.' A school district spokesperson sent the Herald a statement saying 'Dr. Hepburn thanked her for her service and wished her well' when she submitted her resignation letter. Fam was seen speaking with Hepburn at today's school board workshop meeting. The resignation is the latest plot twist for the Broward school district, which has seen years of politically-charged turmoil, superintendent turnovers, financial woes and declining student enrollment. Gov. Ron DeSantis will have the opportunity to appoint a new board member to fill the vacancy. Fam was elected in 2022, defeating Steve Julian for the District 6 seat, which represents Cooper City, Davie, Plantation, Sunrise and Weston. Along with DeSantis appointees Torey Alston and Daniel Foganholi, Fam was part of a conservative voting bloc that sparred with Democratic board members on charter schools, vouchers and support for LGBTQ students. That came to an end last November when Alston and Foganholi lost their elections, a reflection of Broward's status as the only firm Democratic stronghold in South Florida. Shortly after Debbi Hixon was sworn in as board chair in November, Fam objected to a code of conduct resolution that would allow the board to censure a member the majority thinks behaved inappropriately. 'I'm the only conservative on this board so it wouldn't take long to get a majority to silence me, and I've already been silenced on several occasions,' Fam said during the Nov. 19 meeting. Fam clashed with her liberal colleagues over issues like school choice and book bans. Fellow board members criticized her for actions they say were inappropriate, like offering legal help to parents who want private school vouchers, the Sun Sentinel reported. In her letter, Fam included excerpts from the April 11 resignation letter of Alec Bogdanoff, who was appointed as the chair of the Superintendent's Oversight Committee Task Force. Bogdanoff complained of a dysfunctional and hostile work environment, writing, 'Rather than working together to address real issues, the task force has been hampered by entrenched resistance, hostility to new perspectives, and a culture that too often rewards control over progress.' Fam also quoted the following excerpt from Bogdanoff's letter: 'It is deeply disappointing and honestly, sad that instead of focusing our energy on creating more success stories, so much time is spent on infighting, exclusion, and protecting turf.' Fam wrote that she agreed with Bogdanoff and shared a similar experience. She accused fellow board members of 'name calling' and unprofessional behavior. 'I have also encountered the same hostility and personal attacks for trying to improve the school climate and increase inclusivity of parents,' she wrote. 'I also observed that if an individual does not agree with the current district culture of prioritizing social justice over academics, the current recognized quid pro quo, then they are targeted, dismissed, and ridiculed.' Chief among Fam's concerns was how the district handles its finances, writing that the school district 'always appears to be in financial crisis and begging residents to pick up the tab.' 'My greatest fear is that BCSD will seek a bail-out from residents in 2026 in the form of referendum funds from Broward County residents due to the board's failure to implement a balanced budget and engaging in wasteful overspending,' she wrote. 'I have old school values and was taught that you don't buy what you can't pay for. You don't purchase things that you cannot afford. Most importantly, BCSD should not be continually looking to residents to supplement their budget and to fill financial voids while other surrounding counties are functioning with balanced operational budgets.' Fam has plans to move and listed her house in Davie for sale, the Sun Sentinel reported.
The Hill
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hill
Issa Rae cancels sold-out Kennedy Center show after Trump takeover
Issa Rae is canceling her sold-out show at the Kennedy Center as the fallout for the Washington institution deepens after President Trump named himself chairman of its board. 'Thank you so much for selling out the Kennedy Center for 'An Evening With [Me,]' Rae wrote in a message to her 'D.C. Fam' in a Thursday Instagram Story post. 'Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums, I've decided to cancel my appearance at this venue,' the Emmy-nominated 'Insecure' actor said. 'All tickets will be refunded. Thank you so much for understanding and I hope to see you soon,' Rae told her more than 4 million Instagram followers. Rae nixing her appearance, originally scheduled for March 16, is the first instance of a high-profile event canceled in the wake of Trump's dramatic overhaul of the Kennedy Center. Last week, the president announced he was replacing several members of the performing arts institution's board of trustees and was designating himself as its chairman. He later described the Kennedy Center as too 'woke.' 'We took over the Kennedy Center. We didn't like what they were showing,' Trump said. On Wednesday, the newly picked board filled with allies of the commander in chief elected Trump as its chair. Several stars serving in various roles at the Kennedy Center — including Ben Folds, Shonda Rhimes and Renée Fleming — announced they were leaving after Trump's move.
