COLUMBUS, Ohio — A 37-year-old Ohio man has become the first person convicted under a federal law targeting nonconsensual AI-generated explicit content, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
James Strahler II pleaded guilty in federal court to cyberstalking and producing obscene imagery, including AI-generated child sexual abuse material. Prosecutors said he used more than 24 artificial intelligence platforms and over 100 web-based models to create and distribute explicit images involving at least six adult women and minors.
Authorities said Strahler generated hundreds of images and videos, including material depicting victims in fabricated sexual scenarios, and circulated them online. In some cases, he allegedly sent manipulated images directly to victims or shared them with others, including coworkers.
The conviction marks the first under the Take It Down Act, a federal law signed in 2025 that criminalizes the distribution of nonconsensual intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes. The law also requires online platforms to remove such content within 48 hours of being reported.
Officials said the case reflects growing concerns over the use of AI to create exploitative material. Lawmakers from both parties supported the legislation, which passed Congress with broad bipartisan backing.
The Department of Justice said it will continue pursuing similar cases using the new law as enforcement expands.
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