The White House announced the first conviction under the Take It Down Act, a landmark law designed to combat nonconsensual artificial intelligence generated sexually explicit images, cyberstalking, and threats of violence. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt credited First Lady Melania Trump with playing a key role in advancing the legislation, calling the conviction a historic milestone in protecting victims, particularly young people.

James Strahler the Second, 37, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty in federal court to cyberstalking, producing obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse, and publishing digital forgeries. Prosecutors said he used numerous artificial intelligence platforms to create and distribute sexually explicit images of real victims without consent, as well as fabricated images involving minors.

Between December 2024 and June 2025, Strahler targeted at least six adult women with harassing messages that included both real and computer generated nude images. Authorities said he created more than 700 images that were posted to a website dedicated to child sexual abuse, while thousands more files depicting nudity or violence were found on his phone. The case was investigated by local law enforcement and later referred to federal authorities, with sentencing to be determined by the court.