US Charges 2 Men Under New Deepfake Porn Law Over AI Images
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · May 21
US Charges 2 Men Under New Deepfake Porn Law Over AI Images
15 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · May 21
Federal prosecutors charged Cornelius Shannon, 51, and Arturo Hernandez, 20, with using AI to create sexually explicit fake images and videos of women, marking among the first cases under the Take It Down Act.
Millions of views drew attention to the material, prosecutors said, with Shannon accused of posting at least 240 albums featuring female politicians, musicians and singers, while Hernandez allegedly targeted celebrities and private women, including recent high school graduates.
The law, signed last year by President Donald Trump with bipartisan backing and support from first lady Melania Trump, increases penalties for publishing AI-generated deepfakes and revenge porn; each man faces up to 2 years in prison.
The charges extend a widening crackdown on AI sexual abuse after an Ohio man became the first person convicted under the law last month, while other recent cases have involved Pennsylvania students and a Tennessee lawsuit against xAI.
Can new laws hold AI companies liable for deepfake abuse, not just their users?
Has the explosion of AI deepfakes already normalized a new form of sexual violence?
As AI deepfakes become undetectable, is our legal system prepared for what comes next?
U.S. Makes First Arrests Under TAKE IT DOWN Act Targeting AI-Generated Non-Consensual Pornography
Overview
On May 20, 2026, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn announced landmark charges against Cornelius Shannon and Arturo Hernandez, marking the first arrests under the new TAKE IT DOWN Act. The two men are accused of using artificial intelligence software to create pornographic images of real people without their consent, directly violating the federal law. FBI agents arrested Shannon in New Jersey and Hernandez in Texas, showing a coordinated federal response. This case sets an important precedent for enforcing laws against non-consensual AI-generated content and highlights the government's commitment to tackling the growing threat of deepfake abuse.