Taylor Swift Not Searchable on X After AI Explicit Photos Go Viral

January 27, 2024 @ 2:38 PM

Taylor Swift’s title is not searchable on the X platform (previously referred to as Twitter) after nonconsensual sexually express deepfake photos of the singer started circulating on-line earlier this week. When customers kind Swift’s title into the search field on X, a message seems studying, “Something went wrong. Try reloading.”

The deepfake photos started circulating on X and different social media platforms on Wednesday. The pretend pictures had been created by synthetic intelligence instruments that may “undress” an everyday, clothed photograph of somebody.

The express photos have unfold following X enormously stress-free and decreasing its content material moderation tips and instruments for the reason that firm’s acquisition by Elon Musk. The supply of the photographs just isn’t clear.

Citing a supply near Swift, the Day by day Mail reported that the pop star is contemplating authorized motion.

“The Twitter account that posted them does not exist anymore. It is shocking that the social media platform even let them be up to begin with,” the Day by day Mail’s supply mentioned. “These images must be removed from everywhere they exist and should not be promoted by anyone. Taylor’s circle of family and friends are furious, as are her fans obviously.”

SAG-AFTRA stepped in to advocate for Swift on Friday, condemning the photographs and calling for brand spanking new protecting laws.

“The sexually explicit, A.I.-generated images depicting Taylor Swift are upsetting, harmful, and deeply concerning,” the actors’ union mentioned in a press release. “The development and dissemination of fake images — especially those of a lewd nature — without someone’s consent must be made illegal.”

“SAG-AFTRA continues to support legislation by Congressman Joe Morelle, the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, to make sure we stop exploitation of this nature from happening again,” the assertion continued. “We support Taylor, and women everywhere who are the victims of this kind of theft of their privacy and right to autonomy.”

Swift’s followers assembled to defend the singer en masse and flooded the hashtags #ProtectTaylorSwift and #TaylorSwiftAI with messages encouraging others to report the photographs in the event that they see them.

One fan tweeted, “What has happened to Taylor is actually horrifying. I cannot put into words how wrong this is. Love her or hate her, there is no excuse to exploit her like that. I hope that whoever has either shared or made those images gets the most karma possible.”

One other wrote, “Claiming Taylor Swift is a billionaire doesn’t excuse sharing inappropriate AI images of her. She’s still a human being with feelings. Show respect.”

A 3rd fan added, “Supporting artists like Taylor Swift is important because they use their platform to advocate for creative ownership and fair treatment, inspiring a new generation of artists to stand up for their rights.”

On Friday, White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the issue. She mentioned, “We are alarmed by the reports of circulation of images that you just laid out — false images, to be more exact — and it is alarming. So while social media companies make their own independent decisions about content management, we believe they have an important role to play in enforcing their own rules to prevent the spread of misinformation and nonconsensual, intimate imagery.”

Jean-Pierre continued, “This problem is not new, and it’s one that the Biden-Harris administration has been prioritizing since day one. We have taken this very seriously.”

“Again, this is alarming to us. As you know, he launched a task force to address online harassment and abuse, and he did that just this fall. The Department of Justice launched the first national 24/7 helpline for survivors of image-based sexual abuse,” she concluded.