Ohio Man Becomes First Convicted Under Federal Revenge Porn, Deepfake Law

Mintesinot Nigussie

An Ohio man has become the first person in the United States convicted under the Take It Down Act, a 2025 federal law criminalising the non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit images and the publication of AI-generated deepfakes. James Strahler II, 37, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to charges including cyberstalking and producing obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse material.

Prosecutors said he targeted at least ten victims, including minors. He created more than 700 images and uploaded them to sites dedicated to child sexual abuse material. Investigators later found more than 2,400 additional files on his devices flagged for nudity, abuse, or violence.

The Take It Down Act, championed by First Lady Melania Trump, criminalises non-consensual intimate imagery and requires online platforms to remove flagged content promptly. Violations carry prison sentences of up to two years for adults and three years for minors.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the conviction “a significant milestone for protecting Americans from cybercrime.” Mrs. Trump praised U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for enforcing the law in the first major case.

The case highlights the broader scope of digital crimes involving deepfakes and non-consensual imagery, raising awareness about online safety and the enforcement of new federal protections.

Overall, the conviction sets a strong precedent for the enforcement of the Take It Down Act and sends a clear message against the misuse of technology for harassment and exploitation.

Mintesinot Nigussie