Stephen Geoffrey Lund, an American national, was arrested in Cebu, Philippines, in 2025 for alleged possession of child sexual abuse materials. His case drew public attention as part of a broader crackdown on foreign sex offenders hiding in the country. Lund was reportedly one of several fugitives wanted by the FBI who had been living in the Philippines for years, evading justice.

Senator Risa Hontiveros condemned the presence of such individuals, stating, “It’s horrifying to imagine that someone capable of such acts has been freely walking among us for over two decades”. Lund’s arrest coincided with a Senate hearing on the dangers of AI-generated deepfake pornography, which highlighted how emerging technologies are being exploited to produce abusive content targeting women and children.

Both Lund and another fugitive, Thomas Scheuer, were slated for deportation. Their arrests underscored growing concerns about the Philippines being used as a refuge by foreign predators, prompting calls for stronger international cooperation and digital safeguards.