“You can’t regulate AI”: Fans are Still Not Convinced after New AI P*rn Bill Takes Spotlight Following Taylor Swift AI Images
In a revolutionary move, the US Senate has introduced a bill against people creating deep fakes and nonconsensual images using artificial intelligence. With the rise of AI tools, many celebrities, including Taylor Swift most recently, have faced such situations where their doctored images have gone viral. The spread of nonconsensual, sexualized images generated by artificial intelligence will be criminalized. This bill comes after much deliberation to curb the use of AI for illegal and harmful purposes.
Taylor Swift Inspires New AI Bill
In another massive feat earned by Taylor Swift, we see the US Senate itself take action against using AI to create sexualised images of people without their consent. After Swift’s images went viral on X, the demand for the bill increased. The US Senate has proposed the bill for now which will take time to get ratified by the government and become a law.
Victims of digital forgeries will be able to seek civil action against the perpetrators who doctor images and create fakes using AI. Using AI-generated images is being seen as another form of p*rn where celebrities become victims of fake images created by generative AI. Many people often use these tools to illicit money via blackmail and harassment as well, making this bill a respite from crimes.
So how about photoshopped pics that existed for over a decade?
— DOME (@DOME_0000) January 31, 2024
Dick Durbin, the US Senate majority whip, and senators Lindsey Graham, Amy Klobuchar and Josh Hawley have championed the bill which will try to curb AI usage to doctor illegal images showing nude people. The bill is called Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024, or the “Defiance Act.”
It also upholds the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 and gives victims the power to sue the person who manipulates their images. Moreover, the bill goes beyond the realm of AI to include other sensitive images under the purview that have been computer-generated without the person’s consent. All sexually explicit content will be tagged under the umbrella of the bill.
“This month, fake, sexually-explicit images of Taylor Swift that were generated by artificial intelligence swept across social media platforms. Although the imagery may be fake, the harm to the victims from the distribution of sexually-explicit ‘deepfakes’ is very real.”
This is a massive grey area and shouldn't be a law. Imagine if you drew someone with a pencil, now you can't? Very scary
— Brendan (@ultraboy444) January 31, 2024
At the same time, the US Senate has introduced AI-related bills in the past to stop fraudulent activities related to imitation and finance, but all of them have piled up and haven’t passed to date. Who knows how long it will take to discuss and pass this bill?
You can't regulate AI.
Anyone that has a computer can come up with whatever they want.
It's like saying maturbation is illegal. Anyone can go to the bathroom and squeeze one out right now and the government wouldn't know.
— eK (@EmptyKilo) January 31, 2024
They do realize that making this bill is just going to make the problem worse, right? You tell people "no" too many times and eventually it becomes personal for people and they do the opposite 🤣
— ༺𝓑𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓴༻ 𝐔𝐅𝐁𝐁𝐂: 𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 (@l0rdapophis) January 31, 2024
Deep fake images usually superimpose a celebrity’s face on a naked body or use AI to remove their clothes and create nude images which are then circulated all over social media. The images are sensitive in nature and can cause great distress to the victim, even harming their reputation in society. In this case, Swift’s massive fan following flooded the social media site with negative comments. Ultimately, Elon Musk had to step in and stop all searches related to Swift on X.
Other Celebrities Faced Fake Images in the Past
Various celebrities across various countries have been subjected to this deception and manipulation. From Scarlet Johansson to Tom Hanks, even the biggest names in the industry have not remained untouched by this horrific act. A product of technological advancements, people have been consistently agitated over the spread of such fake images. They look real enough unless someone looks very closely which escalates the problem and blurs the lines between what is real and what is fake.
Moreover, celebrities are majorly affected since brands and businesses use their voice or their face to advertise their products and services illegally. Tom Hanks took to Instagram to beware his fans of the fake video shared online. Robert Pattinson and Morgan Freeman also found themselves subjected to their fake imagery. The scandal involving Will Smith and Margot Robbie also escalated over her fake images.
