Taylor
Swift's name is once again searchable on X/Twitter after a temporary disabling
of searches over the weekend. The decision to disable searches came in response
to an influx of pornographic AI-generated images of the singer flooding the
social media platform. This also led to the removal of results for queries such
as "Taylor Swift nude" or
"Taylor Swift AI." Now, X
has restored the ability to search for her name.
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| Taylor Swift |
A statement from X, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, states, "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."
The
decision to re-enable the search for Taylor Swift's name follows the White
House weighing in on the controversy. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated
on Friday that the White House is urging Congress to "take legislative action." She expressed concern over the
circulation of false images, particularly non-consensual and intimate imagery
of real people.
Numerous fake images, some depicting Swift in sexualized positions while partially wearing Kansas City Chiefs garb, circulated on X and were viewed at least 22 million times before the platform took action to remove them. The singer's fans actively reported the images and flooded the social media site with positive posts using keywords like "Taylor Swift AI." The White House emphasized the role of social media companies in enforcing their own rules to prevent the spread of misinformation and non-consensual intimate imagery.
The
situation involving AI-generated explicit images of Taylor Swift prompted
responses from various quarters. New York Congressman Joe Morelle and Virginia
Senator Mark Warner expressed their concerns. Morelle used the incident to
advocate for legislation making the nonconsensual sharing of digitally altered
explicit images a federal crime. Warner called the situation deplorable and
emphasized his ongoing efforts to urge AI companies to combat the dissemination
of fake images.
SAG-AFTRA, the union representing performers, issued a statement condemning the images, describing them as upsetting, harmful, and deeply concerning. The union called for legislation, specifically endorsing Congressman Joe Morelle's Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act.
Swift and her team have not made
public statements about the matter, but reports suggest the singer is
considering legal action. The incident has sparked broader conversations about
the need for legislation to address the exploitation of digitally altered
explicit images without consent.
