Two men are now facing federal charges in Brooklyn for allegedly using AI to generate thousands of deepfake pornographic images and videos without consent, marking one of the first major prosecutions under the Take It Down Act.
Cornelius Shannon, 51, and Arturo Hernandez, 20, were arrested and charged in the Eastern District of New York. Their alleged victims include female celebrities, elected officials, and personal acquaintances, with the content reportedly accumulating millions of views across the internet.
What the Take It Down Act actually does
The Take It Down Act was signed into law on May 19, 2025, by President Donald Trump. It was introduced by Senator Ted Cruz and designed to formalize criminal penalties for publishing nonconsensual intimate visual depictions, including those generated entirely by AI.
The law also imposed obligations on platforms. By May 19, 2026, exactly one year after signing, tech companies were required to have removal processes in place for flagged nonconsensual intimate imagery. The Federal Trade Commission began enforcement shortly after that deadline passed.
