Ohio man becomes first to be convicted under new AI statute for sexually explicit images

James Strahler II pleaded guilty to cyberstalking, producing obscene images and digital forgeries of child sexual abuse Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox An Ohio man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to cybercrimes involving real and AI-generated “sexually explicit images”, becoming what the Department of Justice claims is the first person convicted under a new federal AI statute. James Strahler II, 37, admitted to cyberstalking, producing obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse, and publication of digital forgeries. The last charge relates to the Take It Down Act, which “prohibits non-consensual online publication of intimate visual depictions and AI forgeries”. “We believe Strahler is the first person in the United States to be convicted under the Take It Down Act,” Dominick Gerace II, US attorney for the southern district of Ohio, said. “We will not tolerate the abhorrent practice of posting and publicizing AI-generated intimate images of real individuals without consent.” “We are committed to using every tool at our disposal to hold accountable offenders like Strahler, who seek to intimidate and harass others by creating and circ