Taylor Swift deepfake pornography controversy explained

In late January 2024, sexually explicit AI-generated deepfake images of American musician Taylor Swift were proliferated on social media platforms 4chan and X (formerly Twitter). The images led Microsoft to enhance Microsoft Designer's text-to-image model to prevent future abuse.[1] Several artificial images of Swift of a sexual or violent nature were quickly spread,[2] with one post reported to have been seen over 47 million times before its eventual removal.[3] These images prompted responses from anti-sexual assault advocacy groups, US politicians, Swifties, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, among others, and it has been suggested that Swift's influence could result in new legislation regarding the creation of deepfake pornography.

Background

American musician Taylor Swift has been reported by journalists to have been the target of misogyny and slut-shaming throughout her career.[4] [5] American technology corporation Microsoft offers AI image creators called Microsoft Designer and Bing Image Creator, which employ censorship safeguards to prevent users from generating unsafe or objectionable content. Members of a Telegram group discussed ways to circumvent these censors to creative pornographic images of celebrities.[6] Graphika, a disinformation research firm, traced the creation of the images back to a 4chan community.[7] [8]

Reactions

The deepfake images of Swift immediately became a source of controversy and outrage, drawing condemnations from Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network and SAG-AFTRA. The latter group, who had been following issues regarding AI-generated media prior to Swift's involvement, considered the images "upsetting, harmful and deeply concerning."[9] Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, whose company's products were believed to be used to make these images, responded to the controversy as "alarming and terrible", further stating his belief that "we all benefit when the online world is a safe world."[10] [11]

Taylor Swift

A source close to Swift told the Daily Mail that she would be considering legal action, saying, "Whether or not legal action will be taken is being decided, but there is one thing that is clear: These fake AI-generated images are abusive, offensive, exploitative, and done without Taylor's consent and/or knowledge."[12] [13]

Politicians

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed concern over the counterfeit images, deeming them "alarming", and emphasized the obligation of social media platforms to curb the dissemination of misinformation.[14] Several members of American politics called for legislation against AI-generated pornography.[15] Later in the month, a bipartisan bill was introduced by US senators Dick Durbin, Lindsey Graham, Amy Klobuchar and Josh Hawley. The bill would allow victims to sue individuals who produced or possessed "digital forgeries" with intent to distribute, or those who received the material knowing it was made without consent.[16] The European Union struck a deal in February 2024 on a similar bill that would criminalize deepfake pornography, as well as online harassment and revenge porn, by mid-2027.[17]

Social media platforms

X responded to the sharing of these images on their own website with claims they would suspend accounts that participated in their spread. Despite this, the photos continued to be reshared among accounts of X, and spread to other platforms including Instagram and Reddit.[18] X enforces a "synthetic and manipulated media policy", which has been criticized for its efficacy.[19] [20] They briefly blocked searches of Swift's name on January 27, 2024,[21] reinstating them two days later.

Swifties

Fans of Taylor Swift, known as Swifties, responded to the circulation of these images by pushing the hashtag #ProtectTaylorSwift to trend on X. They also flooded other hashtags related to the images with more positive images and videos of her live performances.[22]

Cultural significance

Deepfake pornography has remained highly controversial and has affected figures from other celebrities to ordinary people, most of whom are women.[23] Journalists have opined that the involvement of a prominent public figure such as Swift in the dissemination of AI-generated pornography could bring public awareness and political reform to the issue.[24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Weatherbed . Jess . Trolls have flooded X with graphic Taylor Swift AI fakes . The Verge . January 25, 2024 . February 7, 2024 . January 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240125170548/https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/25/24050334/x-twitter-taylor-swift-ai-fake-images-trending . live .
  2. News: Taylor Swift deepfakes spread online, sparking outrage . . January 26, 2024 . February 7, 2024 . 6 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206151722/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/taylor-swift-deepfakes-online-outrage-artificial-intelligence/ . live .
  3. Wilkes . Emma . Taylor Swift deepfakes spark calls for new legislation . . February 5, 2024 . February 7, 2024 . February 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240207094409/https://www.nme.com/news/music/graphic-taylor-swift-deepfake-imahes-linked-to-4chan-challenge-3582813 . live .
  4. Wahi . Sukriti . March 3, 2021 . Every Time Taylor Swift Perfectly Shut Down A Sexist Interview Question . Elle . November 4, 2021 . April 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220422194919/https://www.elle.com.au/celebrity/taylor-swift-sexist-questions-20572 . live .
  5. Web site: Davis . Allison P. . June 28, 2018 . The Taylor Swift Slut-Shaming Continues . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220524211945/https://www.thecut.com/2013/06/taylor-swift-slut-shaming-continues.html . May 24, 2022 . November 4, 2021 . The Cut.
  6. Web site: Belanger . Ashley . January 26, 2024 . Toxic Telegram group produced X's X-rated fake AI Taylor Swift images, report says . February 7, 2024 . . January 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240125204714/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/01/fake-ai-taylor-swift-images-flood-x-amid-calls-to-criminalize-deepfake-porn/ . live .
  7. News: Hsu . Tiffany . February 5, 2024 . Fake and Explicit Images of Taylor Swift Started on 4chan, Study Says . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240209144437/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/05/business/media/taylor-swift-ai-fake-images.html . February 9, 2024 . February 10, 2024 . The New York Times.
  8. Web site: Belanger . Ashley . February 5, 2024 . 4chan daily challenge sparked deluge of explicit AI Taylor Swift images . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240209035029/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/4chan-daily-challenge-sparked-deluge-of-explicit-ai-taylor-swift-images/ . February 9, 2024 . February 9, 2024 . Ars Technica.
  9. SAG-AFTRA Slams Explicit Taylor Swift AI Images: 'Upsetting, Harmful' and 'Must Be Made Illegal' . . January 27, 2024 . February 7, 2024 . February 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240207110504/https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/sag-aftra-taylor-swift-ai-deepfake-porn-artificial-intelligence-1235889479/ . live .
  10. News: Yang . Angela . January 30, 2024 . Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella calls for coordination to address AI risk . February 26, 2024 . . February 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240225225230/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-calls-taylor-swift-deepfakes-alarming-terr-rcna136402 . live .
  11. Pilley . Max . Microsoft CEO: Taylor Swift AI deepfakes are "alarming and terrible" . NME . January 27, 2024 . February 7, 2024 . 7 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240207110504/https://www.nme.com/news/music/microsoft-ceo-taylor-swift-ai-deepfakes-are-alarming-and-terrible-3578096 . live .
  12. Web site: Zhang . Cat . 2024-01-26 . The Swiftie Fight to Protect Taylor Swift From AI . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240130163639/https://www.thecut.com/2024/01/taylor-swift-ai-deepfake-trending-social-media.html . 2024-01-30 . 2024-03-06 . . en.
  13. Web site: Specter . Emma . 2024-01-26 . If Anyone Can Stop the Coming AI Hellscape, It's Taylor Swift . 2024-03-06 . . en-US . 2024-02-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206223948/https://www.vogue.com/article/taylor-swift-deepfake-x-possible-legal-action . live .
  14. News: Kastrenakes . Jacob . White House calls for legislation to stop Taylor Swift AI fakes . June 10, 2024 . The Verge . January 26, 2024 . en . June 10, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240610140315/https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/26/24052261/taylor-swift-ai-fakes-white-house-responds-legislation . live .
  15. News: Beaumont-Thomas . Ben . Taylor Swift deepfake pornography sparks renewed calls for US legislation . . January 26, 2024 . February 7, 2024 . January 29, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240129031352/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/jan/26/taylor-swift-deepfake-pornography-sparks-renewed-calls-for-us-legislation . live .
  16. News: Taylor Swift AI images prompt US bill to tackle nonconsensual, sexual deepfakes . Montgomery . Blake . . January 31, 2024 . January 31, 2024 . January 31, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240131021340/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/jan/30/taylor-swift-ai-deepfake-nonconsensual-sexual-images-bill . live .
  17. News: Goujard . Clothilde . Taylor Swift deepfakes nudge EU to get real about AI . Politico . February 6, 2024 . February 7, 2024 . February 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240207013737/https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-eye-fix-taylor-swift-nude-deepfake/ . live .
  18. Stokel-Walker . Chris . January 25, 2024 . The explicit AI-created images of Taylor Swift flooding the internet highlight a major problem with generative AI . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126011706/https://www.fastcompany.com/91016953/deepfake-taylor-swift-ai-dangers . January 26, 2024 . January 26, 2024 . Fast Company.
  19. News: Hadavas . Chloe . March 11, 2020 . This Is What's Wrong With Twitter's New "Manipulated Media" Label . February 26, 2024 . . 1091-2339 . February 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226114627/https://slate.com/technology/2020/03/twitter-new-manipulated-media-label.html . live .
  20. Web site: Ghaffary . Shirin . February 4, 2020 . Twitter is finally fighting back against deepfakes and other deceptive media . February 26, 2024 . . February 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226114627/https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/2/4/21122653/twitter-policy-deepfakes-nancy-pelosi-biden-trump . live .
  21. News: Saner . Emine . January 31, 2024 . Inside the Taylor Swift deepfake scandal: 'It's men telling a powerful woman to get back in her box' . February 26, 2024 . . 0261-3077 . February 27, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240227122635/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/jan/31/inside-the-taylor-swift-deepfake-scandal-its-men-telling-a-powerful-woman-to-get-back-in-her-box . live .
  22. News: Rosenzweig-Ziff . Dan . AI deepfakes of Taylor Swift spread on X. Here's what to know. . . February 7, 2024 . January 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240130160321/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/01/26/ai-deepfakes-taylor-swift-nude/ . live .
  23. Web site: March 27, 2023 . Found through Google, bought with Visa and Mastercard: Inside the deepfake porn economy . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129145930/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/deepfake-porn-ai-mr-deep-fake-economy-google-visa-mastercard-download-rcna75071 . November 29, 2023 . November 30, 2023 . NBC News.
  24. Web site: Volkering . Sam . The Taylor Swift Deepfake Scandal Will Change AI as We Know It . Brownstone Research . 6 February 2024 . February 7, 2024 . February 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240207111554/https://www.brownstoneresearch.com/bleeding-edge/the-taylor-swift-deepfake-scandal-will-change-ai-as-we-know-it/ . live .

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