After a New Jersey mother discovered that her daughter’s face had been used in a fabricated nude image that was circulated among her peers, she is now advocating for changes in the regulations surrounding artificial intelligence (AI). Dorota Mani is asserting that her 14-year-old daughter, Francesca, was among several female students at Westfield High School in New Jersey whose images were utilized by a classmate to produce AI-generated pornographic content. Despite reporting the incident to the authorities and the school in October, the images continued to circulate into the following summer. Mani expressed dissatisfaction with the school’s handling of the situation, criticizing it as inadequate.
The mother of the affected teenager is determined to take action to protect other victims of AI exploitation. She has shared her family’s ordeal with Democratic State Senator Jon Bramnick and U.S. Representative Tom Kean in an effort to push for AI-related legislation at both state and federal levels. Senator Bramnick confirmed that he, along with Republican State Senator Kristin M. Corrado, is working on legislation to impose penalties for offenses such as deepfake pornography, categorizing the act of superimposing pornographic content onto individuals’ faces as a severe violation of the law.
Francesca and Dorota Mani appeared on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” to shed light on their experience and raise awareness about the issue. Senator Bramnick emphasized that such actions constitute a form of significant violence and likened them to child pornography. He underscored the importance of passing legislation to address these violations effectively.
In response to the distressing incident, Francesca Mani has taken proactive steps to combat the misuse of AI technology. She has developed a comprehensive website dedicated to educating parents and children on safeguarding themselves against deepfake threats. Additionally, she penned a letter to President Biden urging for nationwide AI policies to protect children from unauthorized exploitation of their images.
The director of Westfield Schools has taken measures to address the situation by providing counseling to students and notifying the relevant authorities. Dr. Raymond González emphasized the importance of educating students on responsible technology use to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Dorota Mani stresses the urgency for legislative action at both state and institutional levels to prevent the misuse of children’s images in AI-altered content. Law enforcement officials across all states are urging Congress to establish a commission to investigate AI-related child abuse and enhance existing regulations to combat the proliferation of AI-generated illicit materials.
Instances of AI exploitation, similar to the one experienced by the Mani family, are not isolated incidents but a global concern. Dorota Mani has connected with individuals from various regions, including Texas, Wisconsin, Paris, and Japan, who have encountered similar challenges. She is committed to advocating for change and empowering victims in similar situations.
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