In the wake of the recent controversy, both the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the White House took a firm stand against the spread of sexually exploitative AI-generated images featuring Taylor Swift that circulated on social media. While finally something might actually be done, it’s horrible that this is what it took.
This past week was a nightmare for Taylor Swift and her fans due to the proliferation of AI imagery on social media depicting the pop star in explicit sexual acts. As previously reported, the ‘Swifties’ mobilized their numbers to counter the NSFW artificial intelligence (AI) images, while voicing their displeasure at the lack of regulations to prevent this from happening.
SAG-AFTRA Statement on Taylor Swift A.I.-Generated Images https://t.co/73a9DvVqc4
— SAG-AFTRA NEWS (@sagaftranews) January 26, 2024
SAG-AFTRA not only expressed its dismay over these images but also reiterated its longstanding support for legislative measures to outlaw the creation and dissemination of such content without consent. The Union posted their response on the official website and shared on social media such as X (formerly Twitter).
In a strongly worded statement, SAG-AFTRA labeled the images as “upsetting, harmful, and deeply concerning,” emphasizing the urgent need for legal intervention. The union declared, “The development and dissemination of fake images — especially those of a lewd nature — without someone’s consent must be made illegal. As a society, we have it in our power to control these technologies, but we must act now before it is too late.”
This is not the first time SAG-AFTRA has addressed the issue. The union has been monitoring developments in this realm for years, consistently expressing support for state and federal laws targeting “deepfake” pornographic images that replicate individuals’ likenesses without their consent.
Furthermore, the matter gained traction in Washington this week. During a White House press briefing on Friday, a reporter questioned whether President Biden supported legislation to ban AI-generated pornographic images.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating, “It is alarming. We are alarmed by the reports of the circulation of images that you just laid out… There should be legislation, obviously, to deal with this issue.”
Tune in for a briefing with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby, and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. https://t.co/IVsqo17dAX
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 26, 2024
Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., introduced the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act last year, and Fran Drescher, the president of SAG-AFTRA, expressed her approval at the time. Drescher emphasized the importance of condemning sexual abuse, whether physical or digital, asserting that it should never be excused or tolerated as “personal expression.”
In addition to supporting the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, SAG-AFTRA also backs broader legislation known as the NO AI FRAUDS Act. This legislation aims to prohibit the use of artificial intelligence to distribute fake replicas of real people without consent, irrespective of the content’s explicit nature.
The union’s involvement with AI-related issues extends beyond legislative advocacy. AI played a central role in the SAG-AFTRA and WGA (Writers Guild of America) strikes last year, leading to the incorporation of contract provisions that mandate both consent and payment for the use of AI. However, it should be noted that these provisions did not prevent studios from employing a blend of performances to create “synthetic” actors.
The explicit AI-generated images of Taylor Swift, which triggered intense backlash from her fans and renewed calls for legislative action, initially surfaced on X and Telegram. Although content moderators eventually removed the images after the backlash, the images had already reached millions of users.
While Taylor Swift has not made a public statement, reports suggest that she is contemplating legal action. Swift could likely be joining the growing number of lawsuits against corporations involved in AI exploitation, such as the high-profile case of The New York Times vs. OpenAI.
As the Joe Biden – Kamala Harris Administration prioritizes addressing issues related to online harassment and abuse, SAG-AFTRA’s advocacy aligns with the broader national effort to establish legal frameworks that protect individuals from the malicious use of AI-generated content.
Given the increasingly negative public perception on AI and the datasets being exploited, stricter regulations may likely – and hopefully – be coming soon.
