...
...
Next Story

Who is Elliston Berry? 15-year-old victim of deepfake porn in US recollects horror

US President, during his joint address to Congress, gave a special mention to the teen victim of deepfake pornography, Elliston Berry.

Updated on: Mar 6, 2025, 11:42:23 IST
Advertisement

Elliston Berry, who attended President Donald Trump's speech to Congress, recollected her ordeals about being a victim of Deepfake pornography in a recent video. Allegedly, one of her classmates created a photo of her without clothes using AI.

First Lady Melania Trump, deepfake victim Elliston Berry, and Alexis Nungaray attend U.S. President Donald Trump address to a joint session of Congress. (Getty Images via AFP)
First Lady Melania Trump, deepfake victim Elliston Berry, and Alexis Nungaray attend U.S. President Donald Trump address to a joint session of Congress. (Getty Images via AFP)

The official White House Instagram page posted Elliston Berry’s video. “Elliston Berry joined President Trump at the Joint Session—a 15-year-old survivor of AI deepfakes who is fighting to protect America’s children,” read the caption.

“With the Take It Down Act and support from @FLOTUS Melania Trump, the next generation is safer from these attacks,” it continued.

Also Read: 13-year-old Secret Service agent visits Donald Trump in Oval Office: DJ Daniel hugs president in viral video

In the video, Berry said she is a survivor of the AI deepfake. She continued, “A classmate of mine targeted me and eight others of my friends and put an innocent picture of Instagram through an AI-editing app that stripped our clothes off and sent it around my whole school.” She then added how she was able to take down the picture from the internet.

First Lady Melania Trump invited two young women to her husband’s address. One of them was Elliston Berry of Aledo, Texas. She was also spotted on Melania Trump's side on Capitol Hill on Monday, where the first lady talked about the publication of sexually explicit images of victims without their consent.

“Hayley Ferguson, who benefited from the First Lady's ‘Fostering the Future’ initiative and is poised to complete her education, become a teacher. And Elliston Berry, who became a victim of an illicit deep fake image produced by a peer. With Elliston’s help, the Senate just passed the Take It Down Act,” Trump said during the speech.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trisha Sengupta

Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.

Discover the latest Trending News, viral videos, social media stories and unusual events from India and around the world. Stay updated with the topics everyone is talking about.
Discover the latest Trending News, viral videos, social media stories and unusual events from India and around the world. Stay updated with the topics everyone is talking about.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe