Devendra Kumar
Taylor Swift is the latest celebrity to fall prey to the growing epidemic of deepfake pornography, a phenomenon fueled by artificial intelligence that has taken over social media, garnering tens of millions of views. The fabricated images of the pop superstar, superimposed onto another woman’s body, have sparked demands for robust legislation to combat the proliferation of this illegal content. The proliferation of deepfake pornography is a significant problem, with over 14,000 hours of forged footage posted on major sites last year alone. The majority of these clips feature non-consensual pornography of women, and experts warn that the staggering growth of these images has normalized the abuse.
The lack of legislation has allowed this problem to spread, and the United States is no exception. While only a few countries have laws addressing deepfake pornography, Australia, South Africa, and Britain are notable exceptions. The United States, however, has no federal law, with some states introducing piecemeal legislation that critics argue is insufficient. This lack of legislation has allowed deepfake pornography to become a major problem, with victims facing numerous hurdles in pursuing justice.
Victims of deepfake pornography face numerous challenges in pursuing justice, including the difficulty of identifying the creators, who often use virtual private networks to conceal their identities. Even if the creator can be tracked down, they may be in a different jurisdiction, making it difficult to pursue legal action. Adding to the obstacles is the lack of evidence, as most victims prioritize getting the content removed rather than preserving it as proof of its existence.
Despite the challenges, lawyers say that celebrities like Taylor Swift may be able to employ other legislation, such as copyright, defamation, invasion of privacy, and cyberstalking laws, to pursue legal action. However, the effectiveness of such lawsuits is uncertain, and critics argue that tech companies are largely protected from liability under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
As the case of Taylor Swift highlights, the proliferation of deepfake pornography is a pressing issue that requires swift and decisive action to ensure the safety and security of individuals online. In the face of these difficulties, some are advocating for stronger legislation and increased cooperation between countries to combat the global problem of deepfake pornography. With the White House and a bipartisan group of US senators calling for action, it remains to be seen whether the United States will follow the lead of other countries in addressing this growing concern.