AI-generated nude photos: X prevents searches for Taylor Swift

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Taylor Swift: repeatedly exposed to online attacks

Photo: James Devaney / GC Images / Getty Images

Nude images of Taylor Swift generated using artificial intelligence (AI) and distributed on the X platform have caused outrage among the pop star's fans and in US politics. Pornographic deepfakes are actually banned on X, which used to be called Twitter. But despite the platform's rules, one particular post was viewed 45 million times before it was deleted after 17 hours.

With the deletion, X only got rid of part of the problem. The platform continued to display fake pornographic images of Swift, for example when you searched for her name. So X tried to get the situation under control by blocking the search. Entering Swift's name into the search mask on Sunday afternoon resulted in an error message. A search for #taylorswift also currently yields the following clue: “Something went wrong. Try loading it again.”

X told Reuters that it was "a temporary measure taken out of caution as we prioritize security in this matter." In practice, however, the blocking is extremely incomplete, as it apparently only applies to a very limited number of search word combinations.

Law required

The White House had already commented on the Swift case on Friday. »This is very disturbing. “We will do everything in our power to resolve this issue,” said spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre, adding that Congress should act on the issue. Social media companies would have to implement their own rules "to prevent the spread of misinformation and non-consensual, intimate images of real people."

According to analysts, Since billionaire Elon Musk took over Twitter in 2022, he has repeatedly been personally criticized for his own controversial posts, but also for his platform's inadequate efforts to deal with fakes and inhumane content.

In the USA, attacks on Swift launched by the right are currently booming. Conspiracy myths claim that Swift is part of a Pentagon psychological operation. She is also accused of using witchcraft powers. One goal is to undermine Swift's credibility amid suspicions that she could support President Joe Biden's re-election. (Read more here: Why there are so many conspiracy stories about Taylor Swift.)

As »404 Media« has researched, the pornographic motifs that caused a stir on According to the article, members of the Telegram group themselves were surprised at how widely the motif had spread on the platform.

sak/Reuters