US senators introduce an anti-nonconsensual AI porn bill in response to Taylor Swift scandal

US Senators led by Democratic Majority Leader Dick Durbin have introduced a bill called "Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits" (DEFIANCE Act).

Here's What We Know

The bill aims to combat the spread of deepfake porn - photos or videos generated by artificial intelligence without the consent of the person depicted on them.

According to the bill, victims of fakes will be able to sue the creators and distributors of such content and demand compensation. It is noteworthy that the document does not specify that fakes should be generated by AI. Probably, if adopted, the law will also apply to old tools like Photoshop.

The reason for the development of the document was the recent scandal around singer Taylor Swift. In the network appeared intimate photos of the pop star, generated by artificial intelligence. Although these images turned out to be fake, they caused a great resonance in society.

In an explanatory note to DEFIANCE, the authors called deepfakes a growing problem, especially for celebrities and politicians. They said such technology is often used for harassment and blackmail, especially of women.

The senators noted that there is currently a gap in US law in this area. While most states have passed laws against distributing intimate photos without a person's consent, they do not apply to AI-generated images.

Go Deeper:

• Taylor Swift's nude deepfakes swirled on X, angering the singer's fans
• The US Screen Actors Guild has condemned Taylor Swift and George Carlin's deepfakes
• White House urged to pass anti-deepfake law amid Taylor Swift scandal

Source: The Verge