{"meta":{"exportedAt":"2026-10-08T07:38:31.183Z","formatVersion":2,"selection":{"q":"image-alteration","system":"","harm":"","context":"","country":"","role":"","relation":"core","evidence":"","year":"2026","response":"","severity":"","verification":"","view":"incidents","sort":"added"},"totalIncidents":2,"coverage":{"cases":2,"countries":1,"languages":2,"unknownLocation":0,"locationPending":0,"unknownLanguage":0,"unknownDate":0,"lawsuits":0,"regulatory":0,"minors":1,"coreRelations":2,"contextualRelations":0,"mixedRelations":0,"unknownRelations":0,"relationPending":0,"relationUnknown":0},"countingNote":"Distinct public cases in this selection. People counts apply within individual cases only; cross-case person overlap has not been resolved. No population incidence estimate.","affectedCountNote":"Interpret person counts with affectedCountStatus and the reported effects. Unquantified zeros are placeholders, not a measured zero.","source":"AI incidents","publisher":"NOPE","url":"https://nope.net/incidents","license":"CC BY 4.0"},"incidents":[{"id":"2026-florida-alleged-ai-sexual-images-arrest","caseFacts":{"claims":[{"id":"c1","status":"reported","evidence":[{"locator":"\"Three counts of creation of an altered sexual depiction of an identifiable person, in violation of Florida Statute 836.13(2)\"; \"The current charges stem from incidents occurring between June and August 2026 and relate to one female victim\"; \"on a $1 million bond\".","relation":"supports","source_id":"s1"},{"locator":"\"[identifying detail withheld] was arrested Sept. 2 and charged with three counts of creating an altered sexual depiction of an identifiable person and three counts of promoting an altered sexual depiction of an identifiable person, as well as sexual cyber harassment and stalking, according to [identifying detail withheld] Police\"; \"he confirmed she is an adult\".","relation":"supports","source_id":"s3"},{"locator":"\"Police Chief David Currey said Thursday that the current eight charges against [identifying detail withheld] [identifying detail withheld] involve one adult female victim\"; \"[identifying detail withheld] is being held at the [identifying detail withheld] Jail on $1 million bond\".","relation":"supports","source_id":"s2"},{"locator":"\"[identifying detail withheld] was arrested Wednesday, Sept. 2, by [identifying detail withheld] police after investigators obtained a search warrant\"; \"He faces eight charges stemming from incidents between June and August 2026\".","relation":"supports","source_id":"s4"}],"assertion":"Florida police arrested a man in September 2026 on eight charges concerning alleged creation and promotion of altered sexual depictions, cyberharassment and stalking of one woman. He was held on a $1 million bond.","causal_attribution":"Police department account (release and news conference) relayed by four outlets; the charge list is the police's, and the custody record is reported from the jail website by TCPalm. Charges, not convictions."},{"id":"c2","status":"reported","evidence":[{"locator":"\"used AI to create sexually explicit altered images depicting victims without their consent and then distributed or promoted those images\"; \"Photographs obtained from social media and other online sources were used to create some of the altered images\"; \"detectives said they identified several additional females believed to have been victimized through similar conduct\".","relation":"supports","source_id":"s1"},{"locator":"\"Currey said investigators have identified several other women who may have been subjected to similar conduct, some of whom may not know their images were obtained, manipulated or shared\"; \"the investigation uncovered complaints and law enforcement contacts involving unwanted communications and similar behavior dating back several years\".","relation":"supports","source_id":"s2"},{"locator":"\"Police said they have identified other possible victims who have not been named publicly and may not know images of them exist\".","relation":"supports","source_id":"s4"},{"locator":"\"took photos from social media and other online sources to create some of the altered images\".","relation":"supports","source_id":"s5"}],"assertion":"Police say the accused used artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit altered images of women from photographs taken from social media and other online sources and distributed or promoted them; detectives identified several additional women believed to have been victimised in the same way, some possibly unaware, and believe the conduct may span several years.","causal_attribution":"Police attribution of AI use; the tools are not named and the case has not been tried."},{"id":"c3","status":"reported","evidence":[{"locator":"\"The investigation began after a woman who knew [identifying detail withheld] contacted police detectives about an ongoing issue with him, according to court documents\"; \"she began to receive random text messages from numbers she\"; \"The photos of the woman in the texts are of her actual face being cropped from public photos on the internet, including her business profile, according to court documents. Her face was placed on random bodies of nude women\".","relation":"supports","source_id":"s3"}],"assertion":"TCPalm reports court documents describing a woman’s complaint of sexual messages and images combining her face from public photographs with other bodies, with harassment dating back to 2018.","causal_attribution":"Single outlet's reading of the arrest-related court documents; the victim's account as recorded by police."},{"id":"c4","status":"reported","evidence":[{"locator":"\"He was ordered to stay away from the woman, according to [identifying detail withheld] court documents\"; \"May not access the internet\".","relation":"supports","source_id":"s3"},{"locator":"\"[identifying detail withheld] is employed as a Lyft driver and Uber Eats driver, police said\".","relation":"supports","source_id":"s2"}],"assertion":"Court documents reportedly imposed no contact with the woman and restrictions on travel and internet use.","causal_attribution":"Court documents via TCPalm; police statement via CBS12."}],"effects":[{"label":"a woman was depicted in AI-altered sexual images made from her public photographs and distributed; several more women identified as likely victims","claim_id":"c2","direction":"negative"}],"sources":[{"id":"s1","url":"https://www.wflx.com/2026/09/03/vero-beach-man-arrested-using-ai-create-share-fake-sexual-images-women/","kind":"news_report","access":"read","language":"en","translation_note":"Read in English on 2026-09-19 (WFLX, Aja Dorsainvil, 3 Sep 2026; converted from an on-air report). Relays the [identifying detail withheld] Police Department's release: charges, statute counts, the June-August 2026 window, one victim, additional victims, bond.","independence_group":"vbpd"},{"id":"s2","url":"https://cbs12.com/news/crime/vero-beach-police-more-victims-more-charges-expected-in-ai-deepfake-generated-sexual-images-of-women-case-peter-solomon-ruma-deepfake-cyberstalking","kind":"news_report","access":"read","language":"en","translation_note":"Read in English on 2026-09-19 (CBS12/WPEC, 3 Sep 2026). Reports Police Chief David Currey's news conference: one adult victim, two phones seized, other women identified, complaints dating back years, employment as a rideshare driver. Same police account as s1.","independence_group":"vbpd"},{"id":"s3","url":"https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/crime/indian-river-county/2026/09/03/vero-beach-man-accused-of-using-ai-to-create-altered-sexual-images/91590462007/","kind":"news_report","access":"read","language":"en","translation_note":"Read in English on 2026-09-19 (TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers, Laurie K. Blandford, 3 Sep 2026). Combines the police release and news conference with [identifying detail withheld] court documents (the victim's account, bail conditions) and the jail website; the court-document material is the only chain independent of the police statements.","independence_group":"tcpalm-court-documents"},{"id":"s4","url":"https://www.sebastiandaily.com/crime/vero-beach-man-held-on-1-million-bond-in-explicit-ai-image-case-95358/","kind":"news_report","access":"read","language":"en","translation_note":"Read in English on 2026-09-19 (Sebastian Daily, Tina Hodges, 3 Sep 2026). Police release plus court records on prior criminal history.","independence_group":"vbpd"},{"id":"s5","url":"https://cbs12.com/news/local/vero-beach-man-arrested-in-ai-generated-sexual-image-investigation","kind":"news_report","access":"read","language":"en","translation_note":"Read in English on 2026-09-19 via the MSN content API copy (CBS12/WPEC, 2 Sep 2026, the first report). Police release.","independence_group":"vbpd"}],"version":1,"ai_roles":["others_use"],"contexts":["privacy","relationships","justice"],"unknowns":["The number of additional women identified by police is not stated ('several').","The AI tools or services used are not named.","Whether the altered images were posted publicly, sent to the victim or sent to others is not specified beyond 'distributed or promoted'.","No plea, trial date or further charges are reported as of 2026-09-19."],"geography":{"basis":"[identifying detail withheld], [identifying detail withheld], Florida per the police department and the county court documents reported by TCPalm; the victim reported to [identifying detail withheld] police and the charges are filed in [identifying detail withheld]; her residence is not stated; charges filed in [identifying detail withheld].","court_countries":["US"],"event_countries":["US"],"affected_person_countries":["US"]},"publication":{"basis":"Published under the 2026-09-15 charter as a harmful-artifact case: an identified but anonymous adult woman was depicted in AI-altered sexual images made from her public photographs and distributed, with several more women identified by police; a criminal arrest with statute counts. Five reports read (four relaying the police department, one adding court documents). Victim unnamed; the accused is not named here; claims stay 'reported' pending court outcomes.","reviewed_on":"2026-09-19"},"ai_involvement":{"basis":"Police say the accused used artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit altered images from real photographs and charged him under Florida's altered-sexual-depiction statute; no conviction yet and the tools are not named. The AI artifacts depicted the affected women; the unwanted messages described in court documents came from a person.","status":"reported"},"person_relations":["depicted_or_impersonated"]},"name":"Florida police charge a man over alleged AI sexual-image abuse and stalking","summary":"Florida police arrested a man over alleged creation and distribution of AI sexual images of a woman without consent, alongside stalking allegations. Police identified additional potential victims. The allegations remained charges at review.","incidentDate":"2026-06-01","incidentEndDate":"2026-08-31","incidentKind":"bounded_series","incidentDatePrecision":"month","exposurePattern":"repeated_interactions","reportedDate":"2026-09-02","aiSystem":"AI image-alteration tools (not named by police); described as artificial intelligence used to create sexually explicit altered images from real photographs","aiProduct":"Unidentified image tool","severity":"high","verificationStatus":"unverified","harmCategories":[],"harmOutcomes":["exploitation_or_abuse"],"harmOutcomeSummary":"An adult woman was depicted in AI-altered sexually explicit images made from her public photographs, which police say were distributed or promoted, alongside years of unwanted sexual messages; police identified several further women as likely depicted in the same way. The accused was arrested on eight counts and held on a US$1 million bond.","frameworkFacets":[],"causationStatus":"alleged","participantUsersAffectedMin":0,"otherPeopleHarmedMin":1,"affectedCountStatus":"partial","affectedCountEvidence":"The charged counts relate to one adult woman (WFLX, CBS12, TCPalm). Police say they identified 'several' other women believed to have been victimised through similar conduct, without a number. One counted plus unquantified others: partial.","victimAgeRange":"adult","jurisdiction":"US","platformType":"other","outcomeType":"criminal_charges","outcomeStatus":"ongoing","primarySourceUrl":"https://www.wflx.com/2026/09/03/vero-beach-man-arrested-using-ai-create-share-fake-sexual-images-women/","primarySourceLabel":"WFLX — report on the case","firstPublishedAt":"2026-09-20T03:19:42.878848+00:00","updatedAt":"2026-10-05T11:09:56.09434+00:00","scopeVersion":"facts-v3","tags":["deepfake","ai-altered-imagery","ncii","fla-stat-836-13","cyberharassment","stalking","united-states","florida","criminal-charges","depicted"]},{"id":"2026-illinois-teacher-alleged-ai-child-image-abuse","caseFacts":{"claims":[{"id":"c1","status":"reported","evidence":[{"locator":"'was taken into custody Friday on eight counts of Child Pornography following a lengthy investigation that started in June, officials said.'; 'students reported to school staff that they believed their teacher was video recording students.'; 'A forensic examination by the Lake County State's Attorney's Office Cyber Lab revealed numerous images of students that had been altered using AI to create explicit images, officials said.'; 'two of the child pornography charges against Sheffer are class X felonies, while six counts are Class 1 felonies.'","relation":"supports","source_id":"s1"},{"locator":"'authorities alleging he created \"illicit\" images by using an AI program to digitally place the heads of students on the bodies of other people, according to the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.'; 'was arrested on eight felony counts.'","relation":"supports","source_id":"s6"},{"locator":"'Officials said he took photos and videos of current and former students and then used generative AI to alter them into pornographic images.'","relation":"supports","source_id":"s5"},{"locator":"'A [school/biographical detail withheld] middle school teacher has been arrested and charged with possession and/or creation of child pornography, police and the Lake County State's Attorney's Office said Friday.'","relation":"supports","source_id":"s3"},{"locator":"'now faces eight felony counts of child pornography following his arrest Friday, according to the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.'; 'detectives executed additional search warrants at Sheffer's residence and recovered multiple electronic devices.'","relation":"supports","source_id":"s2"}],"assertion":"Illinois police and prosecutors announced eight child-pornography charges against a teacher in July 2026. They allege that forensic examination found students’ photographs altered into sexual images using AI.","causal_attribution":"Police and State's Attorney statements reported by six outlets from the same release chain (one independence group), so recorded as reported."},{"id":"c2","status":"reported","evidence":[{"locator":"'\"On the second to last day of the school year... several students reported concerns to school leaders regarding inappropriate photos/videos allegedly taken by Mr. Sheffer that afternoon in his classroom.\"'; '\"Mr. Sheffer was immediately removed from the classroom and placed on administrative leave that day,\" the statement continued.'","relation":"supports","source_id":"s5"},{"locator":"'noting the district became aware of the accusations on the second to last day of school, June 3.'; '\"Mr. Sheffer was immediately removed from the classroom and placed on administrative leave that day,\" she wrote.'; 'Sheffer, who taught at [school/biographical detail withheld] in [school/biographical detail withheld] for [school/biographical detail withheld]'","relation":"supports","source_id":"s4"},{"locator":"'Jenkins said in a letter to District 70 parents obtained Friday by the Lake & McHenry County Scanner that Sheffer was a [school/biographical detail withheld] with the district for [school/biographical detail withheld].'; 'the investigation followed the district's immediate outreach to the police on the second-to-last day of school on June 3.'","relation":"supports","source_id":"s1"},{"locator":"'The charges include allegations that some of the photos showed girls who Sheffer knew, or should have known, were under the age of 13 years old, according to court documents provided to Patch.'; 'During a detention hearing on Monday, a Lake County judge ordered Sheffer remain detained as court proceedings move forward, according to online court records.'; 'Sheffer is next expected in court on July 30 for a preliminary hearing.'","relation":"supports","source_id":"s2"}],"assertion":"The district says students reported concerns about recordings in June 2026, the teacher was removed from the classroom and police and child-protection authorities were contacted. A judge ordered detention in July.","causal_attribution":"The district statement and letter (CBS Chicago, Daily Herald, Scanner) and court documents and records (Patch); the outcome of the 30 July hearing was not found."}],"effects":[{"label":"middle-school students' images were allegedly altered with AI into explicit material by their teacher; eight child-pornography counts filed and the accused detained","claim_id":"c1","direction":"negative"}],"sources":[{"id":"s1","url":"https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2026/07/03/libertyville-middle-school-teacher-charged-with-videotaping-students-using-ai-to-create-explicit-images/","kind":"news_report","access":"read","language":"en","translation_note":"Read live on 2026-09-26 (Lake & McHenry County Scanner, 3 July 2026). Quotes the police/State's Attorney release and the district superintendent's letter to parents obtained by the outlet.","independence_group":"police-sa-release"},{"id":"s2","url":"https://patch.com/illinois/grayslake/teacher-accused-secretly-recording-students-creating-ai-generated-explicit-images","kind":"news_report","access":"read","language":"en","translation_note":"Read live on 2026-09-26 (Patch Grayslake, 6 July 2026). Adds court documents (girls under 13 allegation), the detention hearing and the 30 July preliminary hearing from online court records.","independence_group":"police-sa-release"},{"id":"s3","url":"https://abc7chicago.com/post/libertyville-middle-school-teacher-matthew-sheffer-accused-using-ai-create-explicit-images-students-child-porn-charges/19442819/","kind":"news_report","access":"read","language":"en","translation_note":"Read live on 2026-09-26 (ABC7 Chicago, published 3 July 2026, body dated Monday 6 July 2026 after a correction of the teacher's first name). Release quotes; administrative leave; support services for affected families.","independence_group":"police-sa-release"},{"id":"s4","url":"https://www.dailyherald.com/20260703/crime/authorities-libertyville-middle-school-teacher-created-ai-child-sex-abuse-materials/","kind":"news_report","access":"read","language":"en-US","translation_note":"Read on 2026-09-26 from an Internet Archive capture (Daily Herald, 3 July 2026), decoded from the gzip-encoded body after the second-researcher check. Release quotes and the superintendent's letter: removed from the classroom and placed on leave on 3 June, resources for students, policy review on staff use of personal technology.","independence_group":"police-sa-release"},{"id":"s5","url":"https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/libertyville-middle-school-teacher-charged-ai-students-child-pornography/","kind":"news_report","access":"read","language":"en-US","translation_note":"Read on 2026-09-26 from an Internet Archive capture (CBS News Chicago, 3 July 2026), decoded after the second-researcher check. Officials' description (photos and videos of current and former students altered with generative AI) and the district statement dating the alleged recordings to the afternoon of the second-to-last day of school.","independence_group":"police-sa-release"},{"id":"s6","url":"https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/03/libertyville-teacher-child-porn-charges/","kind":"news_report","access":"read","language":"en-US","translation_note":"Read on 2026-09-26 from an Internet Archive capture (Chicago Tribune, 3 July 2026), decoded after the second-researcher check. State's Attorney's description of the AI method (students' heads on other people's bodies), prosecutors' intention to seek detention, the district letter, the DCFS contact and the policy review on video recording.","independence_group":"police-sa-release"}],"version":1,"ai_roles":["others_use"],"contexts":["education","privacy","justice"],"unknowns":["How many students appear in the altered images and whether the material was shared beyond the accused's devices.","The outcome of the 30 July 2026 preliminary hearing and the case's current status; any plea or trial date.","The software used; authorities describe an AI program placing students' heads on other bodies but do not identify it.","When the photos and videos were taken beyond the afternoon of 3 June 2026 described in the district statement; the release refers to videos taken in class without dates.","The accused's plea; officials initially gave a different first name, corrected in later copy."],"geography":{"basis":"The school is [school/biographical detail withheld] in [school/biographical detail withheld], Illinois (Scanner, Patch); the students are its current and former pupils; the charges are in Lake County Circuit Court, Illinois (Patch).","court_countries":["US"],"event_countries":["US"],"affected_person_countries":["US"]},"publication":{"basis":"Restored under the 2026-09-15 charter as a depicted-minor case with criminal charges announced by police and the State's Attorney and reported by six outlets from one release chain, one adding court records and two the State's Attorney's and district's descriptions; allegations are charges awaiting trial and are recorded as reported. The original ID and first-publication timestamp are preserved; the teacher and the students are not named in the public record.","reviewed_on":"2026-09-26"},"ai_involvement":{"basis":"The [school/biographical detail withheld] Police and Lake County State's Attorney release says the forensic examination found images of students 'altered using AI to create explicit images' (Scanner wording; ABC7 and Patch paraphrase); the State's Attorney's Office told the Chicago Tribune an AI program was used to place students' heads on other people's bodies, and CBS Chicago reports officials describing generative AI alteration of photos and videos. These are charging statements, not court findings; the software is not identified.","status":"reported"},"person_relations":["depicted_or_impersonated"]},"name":"Illinois teacher charged over alleged AI sexual images of students","summary":"Illinois authorities charged a middle-school teacher over allegations that he recorded students and used AI to make sexual images of them. Officials described a forensic examination and support for affected students. He was detained pending proceedings.","incidentDate":"2026-06-03","incidentKind":"bounded_series","incidentDatePrecision":"day","exposurePattern":"unknown","reportedDate":"2026-07-03","aiSystem":"Generative AI image-alteration software (unidentified) that police say was used to alter recordings of students into explicit images","aiProduct":"Unidentified image tool","severity":"high","verificationStatus":"credible","harmCategories":[],"harmOutcomes":["exploitation_or_abuse"],"harmOutcomeSummary":"Photos and videos of middle-school students were allegedly altered with AI into explicit images by their teacher (police and State's Attorney statements via the Lake & McHenry County Scanner, ABC7, Patch, the Daily Herald, CBS Chicago and the Chicago Tribune); the district says supporting students' well-being is its immediate focus and authorities say they are connecting affected families with support services. The allegations are charges awaiting trial.","frameworkFacets":[],"causationStatus":"alleged","participantUsersAffectedMin":0,"otherPeopleHarmedMin":0,"affectedCountStatus":"unquantified","affectedCountEvidence":"'Numerous images of students' (release) and 'current and former students' (CBS Chicago reporting officials) are given without a number; images are not counted as people. Unquantified.","victimAgeRange":"minor","jurisdiction":"US-IL","platformType":"other","outcomeType":"criminal_charges","outcomeStatus":"ongoing","primarySourceUrl":"https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2026/07/03/libertyville-middle-school-teacher-charged-with-videotaping-students-using-ai-to-create-explicit-images/","primarySourceLabel":"Lake & McHenry County Scanner — report on the case","firstPublishedAt":"2026-07-06T02:45:01.237307+00:00","updatedAt":"2026-10-05T11:09:44.712287+00:00","scopeVersion":"facts-v3","tags":["csam","deepfake","minor","school","teacher","criminal-charges","illinois","libertyville","depicted-or-impersonated","restored"]}]}