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Calls for legislation as explicit Taylor Swift deepfakes gain millions of views

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3 months ago

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The circulation of explicit deepfake images featuring Taylor Swift online has prompted US lawmakers to demand the enactment of fresh legislation criminalizing the creation of such content.

These fabricated photos of the pop superstar garnered millions of views on social media platforms, including X and Telegram.

US Representative Joe Morelle expressed his dismay at the widespread dissemination of these images, describing it as “appalling.”

 

In response, X declared that it was actively removing the content and taking appropriate measures against the accounts responsible for its propagation.

The platform emphasized its commitment to monitoring the situation to promptly address any further violations and ensure the removal of the content.

47 million views

While many of the deepfake images appear to have been taken down, one image of Swift reportedly garnered 47 million views before it was removed.

Deepfakes employ artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate a person’s face or body, creating deceptive videos or images.

A study conducted in 2023 revealed a staggering 550% increase in the production of manipulated images since 2019, largely due to advancements in AI technology.

Presently, there are no federal laws in place to regulate the sharing or creation of deepfake content in the United States. However, certain states have initiated efforts to address this issue.

In the UK, the sharing of deepfake pornography was criminalised as part of the 2023 Online Safety Act.

Democratic Representative Morelle, who previously introduced the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, called for immediate action, highlighting that these images and videos could inflict irrevocable emotional, financial, and reputational damage, with women disproportionately affected.

Deepfake pornography comprises the vast majority of such content online, with the State of Deepfakes report from the previous year indicating that women constitute 99% of the targets.

Democratic Representative Yvette D Clarke underscored that women have been subject to this technology’s targeting for years, and with advancements in AI, deepfake creation has become more accessible and affordable.

Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr. echoed the sentiment, stressing the need to establish safeguards against this concerning trend.

No Swift response

As for Taylor Swift, she has not publicly addressed the deepfake images, but the Daily Mail reported that her team is considering legal action against the website responsible for publishing the AI-generated content.

Worries about AI-generated content have escalated, especially as billions of people participate in global elections this year.

Recently, a fake robocall purportedly from US President Joe Biden, believed to be generated by AI, triggered an investigation, raising further concerns about the misuse of advanced technology.

Related Topics:

Ahron Young is an award winning journalist who has covered major news events around the world. Ahron is the Managing Editor and Founder of TICKER NEWS.

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Tesla is slashing prices to stay competitive

Published

1 week ago

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April 21, 2024

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Tesla cut the U.S. prices of its Model Y, Model X and Model S vehicles by $2,000 each, days after the first-quarter deliveries of the world’s most valuable automaker missed market expectations.

Elon Musk’s electric-vehicle (EV) maker lowered the prices for its Model Y base variant to $42,990, while the long-range and performance variants are now priced at $47,990 and $51,490, respectively, according to its website.

The basic version of the Model S now costs $72,990 and its plaid variant $87,990. The Model X base variant now costs $77,990 and its plaid variant is priced at $92,900.
Tesla North America also said in a post on X said it would end its referral program benefits in all markets after April 30.

Referral program allows buyers to get extra incentives through referrals from existing customers, a strategy long used by traditional automakers to boost sales.

Musk has postponed a planned trip to India where he was to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announce plans to enter the South Asian market, Reuters reported on Saturday.
On Monday Reuters reported, citing an internal memo, that the EV maker was laying off more than 10% of its global workforce.
Earlier this month Reuters reported the EV maker had canceled a long-promised inexpensive car, expected to cost $25,000, that investors had been counting on to drive mass-market growth.
The EV maker reported this month that its global vehicle deliveries in the first quarter fell for the first time in nearly four years, as price cuts failed to stir demand.

Tesla is to report first-quarter earnings on Tuesday.

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TikTok launches Instagram competitor ‘Notes’

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1 week ago

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April 20, 2024

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TikTok Notes has launched in Australia & Canada as a formidable competitor to Instagram, offering a unique platform for content creation, text and sharing.

“TikTok Notes is a lifestyle platform that offers informative photo-text content about people’s lives, where you can see individuals sharing their travel tips and daily recipes,” reads the official App Store description.

Take note

The app allows users to create content by combining short videos with text-based notes, closely resembling that of Meta’s Instagram.

Whether it’s sharing a quick tutorial, a personal anecdote, or a thought-provoking message, TikTok Notes is positioned to be a formidable social media platform.

Currently, the app is only available for download and “limited testing” in Australia and Canada.

As it gains momentum, the platform is poised to contest Instagram’s established reign in the social media landscape.

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Ramifications of a TikTok ban to impact Open Internet

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1 week ago

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April 18, 2024

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The United States’ longstanding advocacy for an open internet faces a critical juncture as Congress considers legislation targeting TikTok.

The proposed measures, including a forced sale or outright ban of TikTok, have sparked concerns among digital rights advocates and global observers about the implications for internet freedom and international norms.

For decades, the U.S. has championed the concept of an unregulated internet, advocating for the free flow of digital data across borders.

However, the move against TikTok, a platform with 170 million U.S. users, has raised questions about the consistency of America’s stance on internet governance.

Read more – Big tech to handover misinformation data

Critics fear that actions against TikTok could set a precedent for other countries to justify their own internet censorship measures.

Russian blogger Aleksandr Gorbunov warned that Russia could use the U.S. decision to justify further restrictions on platforms like YouTube.

Similarly, Indian lawyer Mishi Choudhary expressed concerns that a U.S. ban on TikTok would embolden the Indian government to impose additional crackdowns on internet freedoms.

Moreover, the proposed legislation could complicate U.S. efforts to advocate for an internet governed by international organizations rather than individual countries.

China, in particular, has promoted a vision of internet sovereignty, advocating for greater national control over online content.

A TikTok ban could undermine America’s credibility in urging other countries to embrace a more open internet governed by global standards.

 

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