Two teenage boys who used artificial intelligence to create fake nude photos of their female classmates received probation Wednesday in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The boys, who were 14 at the time of the offense, admitted to creating 59 child sex abuse images by morphing photos of girls with virtual images depicting nudity or sexual activity.

Lancaster County Common Pleas Court Judge Leonard Brown III sentenced each boy to probation, 60 hours of community service, and ordered them to pay restitution to victims. The boys were also prohibited from contacting the victims and placed in their parents' custody. If they avoid further legal troubles, their records could be expunged after two years.

The case began when a parent reported that her daughter said a fellow student at Lancaster Country Day School had been taking photographs of students and using AI technology to create nude images. Many of the source photos were obtained from Instagram, according to prosecutors. The images targeted female students at the private school located west of Philadelphia.

During the hearing, Judge Brown noted that neither boy apologized or took responsibility for their actions. He stated that if they were adults, they would likely face state prison time. Both defendants declined opportunities to address the court.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday characterized the case as exemplifying "the dark side of modern technology and social media," describing it as a "weaponization of technology to victimize unsuspecting children." The 2024 scandal led to student protests, the departure of school administrators, and the criminal charges.

The case reflects growing concerns about AI-generated explicit imagery. President Trump signed the Take it Down Act last year, criminalizing the publication of intimate images without consent and requiring platforms to remove such content within 48 hours of notification. Forty-six states now have laws addressing deepfakes, with legislation pending in the remaining four states.