Man sentenced for AI-generated child sexual abuse material
Adam Erdman was sentenced to 28 months to 10 years in Pennsylvania state prison for using AI photo-editing software to convert innocent pictures of two children into nude images. The conviction was the first in Pennsylvania under a 2024 law criminalizing AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
What happened
Adam Erdman, 35, used artificial intelligence photo-editing software to convert innocent photographs of two clothed children into nude images. He obtained the original photos from his friend's social media posts and an email containing vacation pictures, then used an online AI program to make the children appear naked and saved the resulting images to his laptop.
Reported impact
The victim's mother reported anger and a sense of betrayal upon learning what Erdman had done, stating "I trusted Adam as a friend and all the while he was preying on my children."
Index analysis
The judge found the offense "extremely calculated" and imposed the highest sentence available under state guidelines. The judge rejected the defense's claim that Erdman was driven by gender dysphoria, noting that Erdman's conduct did not align with that claimed motivation.
Governance controls
Erdman's conviction was the first in Pennsylvania under a law criminalizing the creation of AI-generated child sexual abuse material, which took effect at the end of 2024. The law was introduced by then-state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie and advanced by state Sen. Tracy Pennycuick.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.