Massachusetts man arrested for AI-driven cyberstalking campaign
A Massachusetts man was arrested and charged with cyberstalking after allegedly using AI-driven chatbots and forged images to harass a female victim for seven years. The chatbots were programmed with the victim's personal information to interact with unknown users on social media, extending a campaign that included posting intimate photographs and personal details on multiple websites.
What happened
James Florence Jr., 36, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, was arrested on September 11, 2024, and charged with cyberstalking. Between late 2017 and the time of arrest, Florence allegedly created multiple social media accounts and email addresses to harass and threaten a female victim anonymously.
Florence allegedly posted photographs of the victim, including images of her underwear taken from her home, on various websites. He created digitally altered images depicting her as nude or semi-nude and posted her personally identifiable information, including email addresses, home address, professional contact information, passwords, and a list of hair dye colors she had used.
Prosecutors allege that Florence programmed multiple AI-driven chatbots with the victim's personal data to mimic human conversation through text or voice interactions with unknown users on social media platforms. The victim received harassing and extorting communications from other users as a result of Florence's posts encouraging them to contact her. At least 27 accounts were created to harass, impersonate, or cause the victim substantial emotional distress.
Reported impact
The victim experienced harassment and emotional distress over a seven-year campaign beginning in late 2017. She received threatening messages and harassing and extorting communications from both accounts controlled by Florence and from other users encouraged by his posts.
Index analysis
The AI chatbots were designed to interact with unknown users on social media using the victim's personal information, extending the reach and impact of Florence's harassment campaign beyond direct contact.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.