Two Men Federally Charged Over AI Deepfake Porn Under the Take It Down Act
Federal prosecutors charged Arturo Hernandez and Cornelius Shannon with generating and distributing AI-created sexually explicit images of women without consent, among the first major cases under the newly enacted Take It Down Act. The men allegedly produced and posted thousands of deepfake images and videos, depicting over 140 real women—including public figures and recent high school graduates—across hundreds of online albums that amassed millions of views. The altered images originated from real, non-explicit photos manipulated with AI technology. Both defendants face up to two years in prison. Signed into law in May 2025, the Take It Down Act makes publishing or threatening to publish non-consensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated content, a federal crime and mandates removal of such material from online platforms within 48 hours. The law addresses the rising threat of AI-driven deepfakes and mirrors similar state legislation. In April, James Strahler was the first person convicted under the Act for creating and distributing over 700 AI-generated explicit images. Federal officials emphasized that abuse of AI to create non-consensual pornography is criminal and will be prosecuted vigorously.
