Latest news with #McAdams
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A Texas teen was the victim of fake AI nudes. Now a new law requires platforms to remove such content.
Elliston Berry, then 14 years old, woke up on the morning of October 2, 2023 in her hometown of Aledo, Texas, to frantic texts from a friend. Innocent photos of Berry and two of her friends from their social media accounts had been edited using artificial intelligence to make them appear nude. Within a day, edited photos of a total of nine girls at her Aledo high school were being shared around the school. Berry and her mother, Anna McAdams, turned this incident into advocacy for a measure signed into law on Monday by President Donald Trump to protect future victims of AI-generated intimate images and non-consensual posting of intimate images. The bipartisan law, led by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and labeled the Take It Down Act, tackles the distribution of revenge pornography and deepfakes — digitally altered images — shared without consent. 'It represents movement, it represents justice, and it represents that even a normal person, just a normal person from Texas, has a voice,' Berry, now 16, said in an interview with The Texas Tribune. The law makes non-consensual posting or threats to post real, fake or altered 'intimate visual depictions' online a federal crime. Posting such depictions could lead to fines and sentences of up to two years for posting depictions of adults and up to three years in prison for posting images of minors. The law also requires that within the next year online platforms make a system where victims or people on their behalf can report such images. Once reported, the platforms must remove the images within 48 hours. 'It should not take a sitting U.S. senator making a phone call on your behalf to get pictures like that taken down,' Cruz said in an interview. 'Any victim should have a right to say that is me, you do not have my permission, take it down.' In Berry's case, a fellow high school student made Snapchat accounts, requested to follow other students at the school, and, if a connection was accepted, sent the false depictions of Berry and her friends. 'As a parent, you prepare to protect your child. We never saw this coming,' McAdams said. 'It was so devastating.' The school was able to identify the student within a week, McAdams said, but they did not tell girls or their families who was responsible because the perpetrator was a minor. In December 2023, McAdams began reaching out to the offices of state representatives and Sen. Ted Cruz. Texas state Senator Phil King, R-Weatherford, contacted the family, and has worked with them on state legislation around deepfake regulation. King's bill is being considered by the state Legislature, which is separately considering a bill to ban minors from social media. In April 2024, Cruz's office responded to McAdams and later flew her to Washington to talk with the Senator about a possible bill regarding AI deepfake regulation. Berry later joined her to promote the legislation on Capitol Hill and to media outlets in Washington and New York. 'Elliston was the impetus for this bill, but sadly, we are seeing women and teenage girls being targeted over and over again,' Cruz said. Many states have laws banning revenge pornography — nude images shared without consent of the person pictured — but many of these laws don't address AI falsified images. This law aims at that gap and places a duty on social media companies to regulate the content of their platforms and remove harmful content when notified. The Snapchat accounts that targeted Berry weren't taken down, Cruz and McAdams said, until after the family met with Cruz and he directed staff to contact the company – months after McAdams and the other victim's families first attempted to contact the platform. 'This makes sure that they have to respond,' McAdams said. At first, McAdams said that Berry wasn't sure about speaking out about what had happened to her. But after her first speaking event at a news conference introducing the legislation, Berry turned to her mother and said 'Mom, I can do this,' McAdams recalled. 'He really gave Elliston her voice back,' McAdams said about Cruz. 'It really has been a healing process for her.' Berry appeared on major networks over the past year advocating for the bill, appeared with First Lady Melania Trump and Cruz at a Capitol Hill roundtable ahead of Trump's joint address to Congress, and attended the address as one of the first lady's official guests. The first lady has been an outspoken advocate for the act as a part of her 'Be Best' anti-cyber bullying initiative. The bill passed the Senate unanimously in February and the House of Representatives, with only two opposing votes, at the end of April. Major companies — including Meta, Google, TikTok, and Snap (the company that owns Snapchat) — endorsed the legislation. The two lawmakers who voted against the bill were Republican Reps. Thomas Massie, Kentucky, and Eric Burlison, Missouri, who both argued the bill could lead to censorship. Massie wrote that the law could be a 'slippery slope,' and 'ripe for abuse,' on X. Some advocacy groups have criticized the bill for vagueness and have worried that the law does not allow enough time for platforms to properly go through removal requests, potentially leading to legal content being taken down. Cruz dismissed free speech concerns and said that the bill does not remotely revolve around free speech, adding 'You can say anything you like, but you don't have a right to harm the rights of others.' Berry and her mom were both in the White House Rose Garden during the Monday bill signing where the president and first lady highlighted Berry's advocacy. 'Elliston Berry stood boldly for change, despite the risk posed to her and her family,' Melania Trump said. 'By speaking out and making her voice heard Elliston, your voice and the voices of so many like you, made this bill a national priority.' Now, Berry and McAdams are focusing on their next policy push: adding lessons about AI into high school curriculums. The pair said they want to add instructions on what AI crime is, what deepfakes are, and what can be done to support victims. This work for AI education they hope will be done on a nationwide level, but Berry and McAdams have started to advocate for this on the state and school-district level. Aledo Independent School District, the district Berry attended during the incident, said in a statement that the district 'fully supports changes in federal and state law that would better address uses of AI that harm children and supports parent and student education about the dangers of AI.' While in Washington, McAdams said she is hoping to meet with administration officials about getting this curriculum implemented nationwide. Berry said she believes if her school had this kind of education, that her photos never would have been edited and if they were, her school and herself would have been more prepared. 'School is supposed to be our safe place,' Berry said. 'It's where we go to learn, get our education. Yet, there's so many cases around the world that people are not even wanting to go to class because they're being tormented on social media.' Google has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Truck driver drank tequila before crash that killed college athlete, AL officials say
A 22-year-old college athlete was tragically killed when a truck driver slammed into his vehicle during a series of wrecks along an Alabama interstate, according to a lawsuit. The driver, 31-year-old John Walter McAdams, who has been charged with murder, told state troopers he drank a 'water bottle' of tequila and had a scoop of powdered Kratom — an illegal drug in Alabama — hours before the crashes May 6 in Limestone County, according to court documents. Now, a wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against McAdams and South Paw Transport LLC, the company responsible for the tractor-trailer which is based in Phil Campbell, Alabama. The lawsuit claims McAdams was distracted, under the influence of alcohol and impaired during the time of the collision that killed William Hardrick, a college athlete who played football at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee. It also accuses South Paw Transport of negligently 'hiring, training and supervising' McAdams. 'The intent behind the wrongful death lawsuit is to make sure Mr. McAdams and his trucking company are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,' Samuel Ford, an attorney representing Hardrick's estate, told McClatchy News. Ford said they are in the process of learning whether McAdams worked for a company or was self-employed. McClatchy News reached out to South Paw Transport on May 15 but did not immediately receive a response. A judge denied McAdams' bond in a May 14 hearing, according to court documents. Limestone County is about a 30-mile drive west from Huntsville. Driver accused of multiple crashes For 27-miles, McAdams barreled southbound on I-65, according to court documents. He is accused of causing eight crashes, including the one that killed Hardrick, WBRC reported. According to Ford, Hardrick was on his way home from school in order to get a Real-ID to be able to travel with his team. Because of the impact, Hardrick was forced off the road, hitting a fence and a guardrail before overturning, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said in a May 15 statement shared with McClatchy News. He died at the scene. McAdams then continued down the highway, eventually pulling over thinking he had a flat tire, according to court documents. When state troopers reached him, they said he smelled like alcohol and showed signs of impairment during a roadside sobriety test, including being 'unsteady on his feet,' according to court documents, which also said he failed a breathalyzer test. 'He didn't seem to have any clue that he had crashed into multiple vehicles over a period of several miles,' Limestone County District Judge Gray West said in court documents, adding that McAdams' cabin was on fire, but he didn't seem to notice that either. Ron Russell, who witnessed one of the crashes, told WAFF he pulled over and started recording after almost being hit by McAdams. In a video taken by Russell, the tractor-trailer is shown speeding and driving into the shoulder of the road before crashing into a white SUV and continuing. 'He needs to reap what he sowed,' Russell told the outlet. 'He got behind the wheel, he killed someone, he's going to have to pay the price for what he did.' Community mourns 'phenomenal' student athlete Hardrick's parents — who had been divorced and estranged for years — came together in the moments after hearing the devastating news about their beloved son, Ford told McClatchy News. 'When (Hardrick's mom) found out what had happened to her son, she was just in complete, utter disbelief and actually still is,' he said. Ford said Hardrick had aspirations of playing in the National Football League. 'He was a phenomenal student athlete,' he said. 'Unfortunately, these dreams were destroyed by someone who decided to be reckless and careless.' In a May 7 statement, Gerald Harrison, university vice president and director of athletics, said Hardrick was new to the football program and the school. 'We will do everything we can to support his friends, family, and teammates at this time,' Harrison said. Hardrick's football coach, Jeff Faris, called him an 'exceptional young man' in the statement. 'He made everyone around him better and has made a real impact both on and off the field,' Faris said. 'We lift up the Hardrick family in prayer as we grieve this tragic loss with them.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Judge denies bond for man facing murder, DUI charges in series of crashes on I-65
LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — A judge denied bond Wednesday for a man facing a murder charge in a deadly wreck that happened May 6 on Interstate 65. Authorities say John Walter McAdams was driving drunk at a high speed and crashed into multiple vehicles over 27 miles on I-65 in Limestone County that day, causing property damage and injuries. One of the vehicles he crashed into was driven by William Hardrick, who died as a result of the incident. RELATED: Reports shed new light on I-65 crashes that led to murder, other charges against truck driver He is also charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident with injury and one count of driving under the influence. McAdams appeared in court on Tuesday on those charges, and his attorneys argued he should be released on bond. District Judge Gray West denied McAdams' bond on Wednesday, saying the weight of evidence against him and the potential punishment the murder charge carries make McAdams a flight risk. A crash report obtained by News 19 detailed the wreck between the 18-wheeler that the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency says McAdams was driving and the Impala driven by Hardrick. ALEA said the wreck occurred near milepost 356 when McAdam's 18-wheeler hit the back of Hardrick's car. Authorities said that after the impact, Hardrick's car left the roadway, struck a fence, a guardrail, and then overturned. Limestone County Coroner Mike West said the vehicle came to a rest on Piney Chapel pulled over when he thought he had a flat tire, and court documents say he showed no indication that he knew he had crashed into multiple vehicles. State Troopers said when they found McAdams, there was a noticeable odor of alcohol emanating from him, and he was unsteady on his feet. Court documents say he showed multiple clues of impairment on the roadside field sobriety test, and he did not seem to know that he had crashed into multiple vehicles or that his cab had caught fire. Court documents show that McAdams told state troopers that several hours before the crashes, he drank a water bottle that was full of tequila and a scoop of powdered Kratom, which is an illegal substance in Alabama. He was then taken to the Limestone County Jail, where he blew a .09 on the alcohol breath test, which is over the legal limit for intoxication in Alabama. Since his bond has been denied, McAdams will remain in the Limestone County Jail. His case is headed to a grand jury because he waived his preliminary hearing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Reports shed new light on I-65 crashes that led to murder, other charges against truck driver
LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — News 19 has obtained crash reports from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency that shed new light on a deadly crash and multiple other wrecks that occurred on May 6 on I-65. On Tuesday, News 19 requested crash reports in Limestone County regarding John. W. McAdams. He is charged with murder, as well as two counts of leaving the scene of an accident with injury and one count of driving under the influence. ALEA said these charges stem from his role in multiple crashes on I-65. We received four reports detailing a series of wrecks on I-65, including one that led to the death of Austin Peay Football Player William Hardick. ALEA's reports redacted the names of the drivers involved in the wrecks. However, we were able to match the reports to details previously shared by the agency. One report details the wreck between the 18-wheeler that ALEA says McAdams was driving and the Impala driven by Hardrick. ALEA said the wreck occurred near milepost 356 when McAdam's 18-wheeler hit the back of Hardrick's car. Authorities said that after the impact, Hardrick's car left the roadway, struck a fence, a guardrail, and then overturned. Limestone County Coroner Mike West said the vehicle came to a rest on Piney Chapel Road. The reports said the 18-wheeler had been involved in wrecks before and after the wreck with the Impala. McAdams reportedly told investigators that he stopped at the 365-mile marker to rest and drank tequila before taking a nap. McAdams also appeared in the Limestone County courthouse for a hearing on Tuesday. When he appeared in court on Tuesday, a trooper testified that he drank a water bottle full of tequila. 'After waking up, he got back on the road but did not remember the specific details of when or why,' the report said. 'Field Sobriety Tests were administered, revealing several clues of impairment.' The report said McAdams was given a breathalyzer test at the Limestone County Jail and got a result of .09. BAC. The first wreck detailed in the reports happened at mile marker 362, before McAdams hit Hardrick's vehicle. The report said the wreck happened when the McAdams' 18-wheeler hit a Nissan Sentra twice before the other car was able to exit the interstate. The wreck after the one that led to Hardick's death was at mile marker 353 and involved the 18-wheeler and a Lexus. The report said the 18-wheeler collided with the rear bumper of the Lexus and partially overrode it. The final wreck happened at milepost 346 near Huntsville Brownferry Road. The report said the wreck occurred when McAdams's 18-wheeler hit a Ford Bronco in the rear bumper while the Bronco was changing lanes. Tuesday marked McAdams first appearance in court following his arrest. His defense team waived his preliminary hearing, but the court also considered his request for bond. His attorneys argued he should be released on bond, but a judge has not yet ruled on that matter. The case is headed to a grand jury. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
President Trump to sign Take It Down Act to help victims of deepfake porn
ALEDO, Texas (Nexstar) — Elliston Berry's life changed just a couple of months into her high school career when a classmate decided to take photos from her social media page and generate fake pornographic images of her, known as deepfakes. Elliston's mom, Anna McAdams, recalls the moment her 14-year-old daughter discovered the images were circulating around social media. 'Coming to our room crying going, 'Mom you won't believe what's happening,'' McAdams said. 'We really watched her go into a shell, kind of go inside herself. She got off social media completely. We saw her withdraw.' That was in October 2023. This year, sparked by the mother-daughter duo, President Donald Trump said he will sign the Take It Down Act — a bill to criminalize those who publish non-consensual intimate images. McAdams said she struggled to get help from the school and from the social media app, Snapchat, to get the images removed. 'We would go on there and just request please take these down. I'd leave my email, my phone number, and never heard back from them,' McAdams said. Their story made its way to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's office, who authored the Take It Down Act. According to the senator, more than 90% of the victims in these cases are women. Cruz said he had to intervene with Snapchat to get Elliston's fake images removed from the app, and his bill looks to make it easier for victims to get the intimate images taken down in the future. 'It shouldn't take a sitting-U.S. Senator making a phone call to get that content down, and now as soon as the President signs the Take It Down Act into law, any victim will have a federal statutory right to ensure that content gets taken down,' Cruz said. The senator explained his bill borrows the notice-and-takedown system from the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. For example, social media companies have teams responsible for taking down content that is copyright infringement. Cruz's bill would require tech companies to take down any non-consensual images within 48 hours of receiving a complaint from a victim. 'If this is a non-consensual intimate image, either a real one, or a deepfake, it doesn't matter, the victim has a right to get that content taken down,' Cruz said. It not only applies to AI-generated images, but any image that is intimate in nature and does not have the consent of the person depicted. The Federal Trade Commission will have the authority to punish and force a tech platform to comply with the law. McAdams and her daughter continue to advocate for victims. McAdams said she is currently working on a curriculum to teach schools and parents about the bill and how they can use in it in the future. 'This Take It Down Act is there and we can use. Law enforcement can use it,' McAdams said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
