Introduction
Taylor Swift fans, known as Swifties, are expressing anger on Elon Musk’s social-media platform, referred to as “X.”
The cause of their anger is the circulation of explicit AI-generated images of Taylor Swift, posted by a user with a verified blue checkmark on X.
Incident Details
The explicit AI-generated images of Taylor Swift posted on X gained significant traction, accumulating over 45 million views and 24,000 reposts.
The post remained visible for 17 hours before being taken down.
Swifties’ Response
In response to the explicit content, Swifties flooded hashtags on X with videos of Taylor Swift performing.
They started a movement urging others to use the hashtag “protect Taylor Swift” on the platform.
X’s Reaction
X officially acknowledged the situation through a post from its “Safety” account.
The platform assured users that it is actively working to remove the explicit images and taking actions against the accounts responsible for posting them.
X’s Policy
X emphasized its zero-tolerance policy towards Non-Consensual Nudity (NCN) images.
The platform stated that these explicit images were reported to have originated from a Telegram channel dedicated to using artificial intelligence for creating abusive images of women.
Content Moderation Concerns
Elon Musk, who took over X in 2022, has significantly reduced the platform’s content-moderation team.
This reduction has raised concerns about X’s capacity to effectively handle disinformation and explicit material on the platform.
Previous Complaints
Users on X have previously complained about the circulation of highly graphic content, including videos of gang executions and links to apps creating non-consensual nude images using AI.
AI Image Generators and “Deepfakes”
The incident highlights the increasing availability of AI image generators, raising concerns about the creation of “deepfake” naked images.
Instances of such deepfake content have been reported in schools, sparking national outrage.
Business Insider’s Inquiry
Business Insider reached out to X for comment outside normal working hours.
As of now, X has not provided an immediate response to the request for comment.