Taylor Swift’s Name Untraceable on X After Deepfake Incident
After explicit deepfake images of pop star Taylor Swift circulated on X, the platform now seems to be blocking searches of her name. Attempting to search for her returns a message indicating that “Something went wrong. Try reloading,” as of Saturday afternoon.
Key Takeaways:
– Taylor Swift’s name currently unsearchable on X after explicit deepfake images went viral.
– X is undergoing a rigorous cleanup process, targeting and disabling accounts that posted offending material.
– The White House expresses concern over the incident, calls for legislative action.
X’s Response to the Incident
Despite remaining silent about making Swift’s name unsearchable, X did address the issue of the inappropriate deepfakes on Friday. The company stated, “Posting Non-Consensual Nudity (NCN) images is strictly prohibited on X and we have a zero-tolerance policy towards such content.” They also confirmed their teams’ active involvement in identifying and removing the concerning images and punishing the responsible accounts.
The Impact and the Community’s Response
The deepfake images, reportedly made using artificial intelligence (AI), garnered a staggering 27 million views within just 19 hours. This alarming rate of spread led to rapid action from X, which suspended one of the accounts that posted the explicit content. Notably, these images bore a watermark suggesting a link to a notorious website known for creating fake nude photos of celebrities, prominently featuring an “AI Deepfake” section.
Despite the abhorrent incident, Swift’s fans rallied to support her, attempting to supplant the negative images with positive ones under the hashtag #ProtectTaylorSwift. This positive response was widely applauded, with one user deeming X’s decision to make Swift’s name unsearchable as a “first step done to safeguard her.”
The Call for Legislative Action
This disturbing incident also incited response from the political sphere. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre conveyed to ABC News that they were “alarmed” by what unfolded online with regards to Swift. She further advocated for Congress to step in and leverage legislative measures as a preventive action against such incidents in the future.
The Ongoing Fight Against Deepfakes
The shocking spread of these deepfake images underscores the ongoing problem of such content online. It casts light on the necessity for stricter rules and regulations against non-consensual explicit content. With the exploitation of AI in spreading harmful content, protective measures must also keep pace with advancing technology. This incident has opened the dialogue for improving safeguarding against such technologically advanced forms of abuse while ensuring that the existence of celebrities in the digital realm is protected. However, it remains to be seen how these dialogues will translate into tangible action and change in the digital landscape.