Taylor Swift faces an unsettling situation as her name becomes unsearchable on X (formerly Twitter) amid an explicit photos scandal involving AI-generated content. The incident comes after sexually explicit deepfake images of the pop superstar circulated online, prompting a significant response from both social media users and official entities. Here's a detailed breakdown.
Users attempting to search for Taylor Swift's name on X are met with an error message stating, 'Something went wrong. Try reloading.' Swift's official X account remains accessible, but the search functionality appears to be affected.
The search issue on X follows the circulation of sexually explicit deepfake images of Taylor Swift. A post featuring these images garnered 47 million views on X before the account responsible was suspended. X took subsequent actions to shut down accounts sharing the fake content, but it continued to spread on other platforms.
The scandal prompted public outcry with the hashtag 'Protect Taylor Swift' trending on X. The White House weighed in on the matter, expressing concern about the incident and calling for legislation to protect victims of online harassment. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre highlighted the negative impact of AI and emphasized the need for legislative action to address such issues.
Jean-Pierre emphasized the role of social media companies in enforcing their rules to prevent harassment, especially given its disproportionate impact on women and girls as primary targets.
SAG-AFTRA, the actors' union, released a statement condemning the development and dissemination of fake images without consent, particularly those of a lewd nature. The union called for the criminalization of such actions, citing the societal responsibility to control these technologies.
The statement described the images as 'upsetting, harmful, and deeply concerning,' underscoring the urgency for action before it is too late.