Brooke Schinault pleaded no contest and was convicted of falsely reporting a crime after using AI to fabricate a rape claim in St. Petersburg. Schinault called 911 in October, claiming a homeless man broke into her apartment and sexually assaulted her while her infant slept nearby. She provided police with an AI-generated photo showing a hooded white male in his 30s sitting on her couch. Detective Dagni Closser recognized the image from a viral “AI homeless man challenge” on TikTok, where users upload home photos to AI applications that insert a homeless man’s picture as a prank. The false report triggered a massive police response including seven officers, a detective, six rescue personnel, and a forensic technician who collected DNA samples. When confronted, Schinault later confessed she “wanted attention” and was struggling with depression. She was fined and placed on probation. (Story URL)
Florida Woman Convicted For AI-Generated Rape Hoax Inspired By TikTok Challenge
Dec 3, 2025 | 7:02 PM