X, the social media platform recently rebranded by Elon Musk, formerly known as Twitter, has initiated a preliminary measure at the platform level to combat the proliferation of counterfeit explicit images of Taylor Swift.
On Saturday, attempts to search for “Taylor Swift” on X resulted in an error message prompting users to reload the page. However, it was observed that X specifically blocked this text string while allowing variations like “Taylor AI Swift” to remain searchable.
Regarding the decision to restrict searches related to Taylor Swift, Joe Benarroch, the head of business operations at X, stated to the Wall Street Journal, “This action is temporary and taken with utmost caution as we prioritize safety on this matter.”
This action was taken following the widespread circulation of sexually explicit AI-generated images of Swift on X and various other online platforms.
SAG-AFTRA released a statement on Friday denouncing the fabricated Swift images as “disturbing, damaging, and profoundly troubling,” advocating for the criminalization of creating and sharing such lewd content without consent. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, in an NBC News interview, expressed deep concern over the fake explicit images of Swift, emphasizing the necessity for action to ensure a secure online environment.
The White House also addressed the issue, with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stating, “We are troubled by the reports of the dissemination of the images you described… Legislation should be in place to address this matter.”
The circulation of sexually explicit deepfake content featuring Swift went viral on X on January 24, amassing over 27 million views within 19 hours before the account responsible for the images was suspended, as reported by NBC News.
In a statement posted late in the evening on January 25, X’s Safety team declared ongoing efforts to eliminate all instances of nonconsensual nudity, emphasizing the platform’s strict prohibition of such content.
The Safety team on X reiterated, “The posting of Non-Consensual Nudity (NCN) images is strictly forbidden on X, and we maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards such material. Our teams are actively identifying and removing all such images while taking appropriate actions against the accounts involved in their dissemination. We are vigilantly monitoring the situation to promptly address any further violations and ensure the immediate removal of such content. Our commitment lies in upholding a secure and respectful environment for all users.”
