Massachusetts man found guilty of AI-powered cyberstalking
A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty to a seven-year cyberstalking campaign that used AI-powered chatbots to impersonate and harass a university professor, a child and others, highlight ing the growing threat of AI-powered cyberstalking and raises concerns about online safety , especially of children. What happened 36-year-old Massachusetts man James Florence created chatbots on CrushOn.ai and JanitorAI to mimic his victim's identity, engaging in explicit conversations with users and sharing her personal information. He also stole items from the victim's home, including underwear, and posted compromising and digitally altered images of her on various websites. The harassment lasted from 2017 to 2024, causing significant distress to the victim and her husband, and forcing them to install domestic surveillance systems. Florence also targeted other women and a minor, manipulating their images for exploitation. Why it happened CrushOn.ai , JanitorAI and other so-called cha racter AI platforms c an easily be used to harrass, humiliate, bully and harm others, e specially women and young girls, resulting in a massive surge of AI-powered cyberstalking incidents. Neither platform did anything to stop the creation and promotion of the chatbots Florence created. What it means The case highlights the growing threat of AI-powered cyberstalking and raises concerns about online safety. It also highlights the need for stronger legal frameworks to address these kinds of harassment. It also raises questions about the typcially poor governance, including inadequate moderation of content, of AI chatbot platforms, and their relentless focus on profit over safety. System 🤖 Crushon.AI 🔗 JanitorAI 🔗 Developer: JanitorAI Inc; Peekaboo Game Country: USA Sector: Media/entertainment/sports/arts Purpose: Harrass/humiliate Technology: Chatbot; Generative AI; Machine learning Issue: Privacy; Safety Legal, regulatory 👩🏼⚖️ United States Atto rney's Office. Plymouth Man Arrested for Seven-Year-Long Cyberstalking Campaign
- Date it happened
- 2017-01-01
- Organisation involved
- James Florence Jr
- Product, system or model
- Crushon.AI; JanitorAI
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