New Jersey Man Charged Under New Law for Creating AI-Generated Deepfake Pornography
Federal prosecutors have charged Cornelius Shannon, a 51-year-old from New Jersey, and Arturo Hernandez, a 20-year-old from Texas, with using artificial intelligence to create and distribute sexually explicit deepfake videos and photos. These charges are among the first under the Take It Down Act, a law signed last year by President Trump, which imposes stricter penalties for publishing AI-generated deepfakes and 'revenge porn.' The law received bipartisan support and was publicly backed by First Lady Melania Trump. Shannon and Hernandez are accused of generating explicit AI content that garnered millions of views online. Shannon allegedly published at least 240 albums of AI-generated pornography featuring female politicians, musicians, and singers. Hernandez's deepfakes included both celebrities and private individuals, such as recent high school graduates. The arrests highlight growing concerns over the misuse of generative AI tools to create sexually explicit content, often involving minors.