Taylor Swift’s name becomes unsearchable with X after AI explicit photo scandal – Billboard

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Social media users searching for Taylor Swift’s name on X (formerly Twitter) were in for a surprise on Saturday (January 27).

After typing the 34-year-old pop superstar’s name into X’s search box, users received the following message: Error message: “Something went wrong. Please try reloading.” Swift’s X official account It was still accessible during press time Saturday afternoon.

signboard has reached out to representatives of the social media company for comment.

The X search issue comes days after sexually explicit deepfake images of Swift began circulating online. A post featuring the photo shared through X on Wednesday night (January 25) was viewed 47 million times before the account was finally suspended the next day. X has since shut down several accounts that posted the fake images, but the images have since been shared on other social media platforms. “Save Taylor Swift” soon began trending on X.

The White House has spoken out in the wake of the scandal, calling for legislation to protect victims of online harassment. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the incident “alarming” and said the negative aspects of AI are a focus of the Biden administration.

“Of course Congress should take legislative action,” Jean-Pierre was quoted as saying. The Verge. “That’s how we address some of these issues.”

Jean-Pierre also said social media companies “have an important role to play in enforcing their own rules” to prevent this type of harassment.

“We know that lax enforcement has a disproportionate impact on women and, sadly, girls, who are by far the targets of online harassment and abuse.”

SAG-AFTRA also released a statement on the matter, writing, “The development and distribution of false images, especially those of an obscene nature, without someone’s consent must be made illegal.” As a society, we have the power to control these technologies, but we must act now before it is too late. ”

The Actors Guild called the footage “upsetting, harmful and deeply disturbing.”