The White House reacted with concern to explicit images of singer Taylor Swift that were generated by artificial intelligence (AI) and called for the creation of legislation to prevent the distribution of these types of images.
During a press conference, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized the circulation of fake photos of Swift that appeared on the platform X. The images reached millions of views before being removed.
"It's alarming. We know that incidences like this disproportionately impact women and girls," said Jean-Pierre, highlighting the importance that social media companies should follow their own rules to prevent the spread of inappropriate content.
At the press conference, the secretary suggested the need for legislation to address this situation but assured that the federal government would do everything possible to reduce the risks of distribution of false images.
The circulation of false images of Taylor Swift are alarming. We know that incidences like this disproportionately impact women and girls. @POTUS is committed to ensuring we reduce the risk of fake AI images through executive action. The work to find real solutions will continue. pic.twitter.com/IOIl9ntKtP
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) January 26, 2024
Actors union also condemned the photos
The actors' union, SAG-AFTRA, also condemned the images, calling them disturbing and harmful. Likewise, they advocated for legal measures to protect people's privacy and image through a statement.
"SAG-AFTRA's legal team has been working with lawmakers who understand the importance of acting immediately to pass legislation that protects individuals' voices and likenesses — both in the case of living and deceased performers," it added in the declaration.
X blocks searches for Taylor Swift
In response to the fake images of the singer, X temporarily blocked searches related to Taylor Swift as a security measure. In a statement, the social media platform reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards non-consensual content and assured that it was taking measures to eliminate any inappropriate content.
"Posting Non-Consensual Nudity (NCN) images is strictly prohibited on X and we have a zero-tolerance policy towards such content. Our teams are actively removing all identified images and taking appropriate actions against the accounts responsible for posting them. We're closely monitoring the situation to ensure that any further violations are immediately addressed, and the content is removed. We're committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all users," the post indicated.
Posting Non-Consensual Nudity (NCN) images is strictly prohibited on X and we have a zero-tolerance policy towards such content. Our teams are actively removing all identified images and taking appropriate actions against the accounts responsible for posting them. We're closely…
— Safety (@Safety) January 26, 2024
The CEOs of several companies ask to regulate artificial intelligence
In the past, technology company leaders such as Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, have advocated for the regulation of artificial intelligence due to its potential risks. Altman warned of the possible impact on employment and the spread of misinformation to large-scale manipulation.
Additionally, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg met last year at the first meeting of the AI Insight Forum with sixty senators to discuss legislation that would regulate artificial intelligence in the United States. There, Senator Charles E. Schumer stated that all pertinent evaluations and considerations should be made before creating a law to regulate this technology.
"If you go too fast, you could ruin things. The EU went too fast, and now they have to go back. So what we're saying is, on a timeline, it can't be days or weeks, but nor should it be years. It will be in the general category of months," Schumer said.
