Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have charged two men under the Take It Down Act, alleging they used AI to create and distribute sexually explicit deepfake images of real women without consent.
Arturo Hernandez of Texas and Cornelius Shannon of New Jersey face separate cases. Prosecutors say they posted thousands of AI-generated images and videos depicting actresses, singers, political figures, and recent high school graduates engaged in sexual acts. The materials were uploaded in over 470 albums and received millions of views.
The Take It Down Act, signed into law by President Trump in May 2025, makes it a federal crime to publish non-consensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated content. It also requires online platforms to remove flagged content within 48 hours. The defendants face up to two years in prison.
This case follows the first conviction under the law last month, when James Strahler of Ohio pleaded guilty to creating AI-generated explicit images, including those of minors. FBI Assistant Director James Barnacle Jr. stated, "The use of this emerging technology to victimize individuals is not innovative-it is criminal."