X, the social network owned by Elon Musk, formerly known as Twitter, has finally taken rudimentary steps at the platform level to slow the spread of fake graphic images of Taylor Swift.
As of Saturday, a search for an Please try refreshing.” However, as the user pointed out, X appears to only block that specific text string. For example, a query for “Taylor AI Swift” is still allowed in X.
Regarding Taylor Swift's search blocking changes,
The move comes days after AI-generated sexually explicit images of Swift went viral on X and other internet platforms.
SAG-AFTRA issued a statement on Friday calling Swift's fake image “upsetting, harmful and deeply concerning,” adding, “It is unlawful to develop and distribute fake images, especially images of a sexually explicit nature, without someone's consent.” “It has to be,” he said. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella called the fake Swift pornographic images “astounding and appalling” in an interview with NBC News and said, “We need to take action.” “I think we all benefit, regardless of your position on a particular issue, if the online world becomes a safer world.”
The White House also weighed in on the issue. When asked whether President Biden supported legislation to criminalize artificial intelligence pornography, White House spokeswoman Carine Jean-Pierre responded, “We are appalled by the report on the distribution of the image you just presented.” “I want to deal with this issue.”
NBC News reported that Swift's explicit deepfake went viral on X on Wednesday, January 24, garnering more than 27 million views 19 hours before the account that originally posted the image was suspended.
In a late evening post on January 25, X's safety team said the company was “actively removing” all identified non-consensual nudity images, which were “strictly prohibited” from the platform.
“Posting non-consensual nude (NCN) images is strictly prohibited on X and we have a zero-tolerance policy for such content,” the Safety on post. “Our team is actively removing all images identified and taking appropriate action against the accounts that posted them. We are closely monitoring the situation to ensure that any additional violations are immediately addressed and content removed. “We are committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all of our users.”