X (formerly Twitter) re-enabled searches for "Taylor Swift" on the platform. The social network owned by Elon Musk had to block these searches due to the posting of numerous sexual images of the singer created with artificial intelligence (AI), known as deepfakes.
Through a statement accessed by The Hollywood Reporter, X confirmed that users could search for Taylor Swift's name in the platform's search feature and that they will continue to assure that similar images are not disseminated again:
Search has been re-enabled and we will continue to be vigilant for any attempt to spread this content and will remove it if we find it.
Searches blocked
The move comes a few days after X decided to restrict searches related to Taylor Swift. "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 platform wrote in a post.
The Biden administration also reacted. During a press conference, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the posting of fake images "alarming." In addition, she suggested the need to legislate on artificial intelligence to reduce its risks as much as possible and to prevent events like this from reoccurring.
