23-year-old man arrested for posting AI-generated pornographic images of NC State sorority members on EroMe website

Summary

A 23-year-old man from Philadelphia, Hayne Beard, was arrested for posting AI-generated pornographic images of North Carolina State University students on a pornographic website. The images, which were labeled with the names of sorority members, were posted on the site EroMe, and more than 28 sorority members were targeted. Beard was charged with two counts of misdemeanor stalking, as the warrant stated he knew or should have known the images would cause emotional distress. The university was first notified of the incident in October 2024, before a new state law against AI-generated sexualized images took effect in December 2024. Beard posted a $2,400 bond and did not respond to calls from WRAL News. The case has prompted discussion about the need for stronger protections against digital harms, as the law could have led to more severe charges had the incident occurred after its enactment.