The White House responded with concern on Friday following the proliferation of numerous AI-generated explicit images featuring renowned music icon Taylor Swift, which gained widespread attention this week. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre characterized the incident as "alarming" and emphasized the necessity for congressional intervention to address the dissemination of fabricated explicit content generated using advanced technology.
Jean-Pierre, speaking at the White House press briefing, stressed the imperative of legislative action by Congress, stating that it is an essential approach to tackling such issues effectively. She underscored the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the urgent need for measures to prevent the circulation of fake explicit content and misinformation.
While acknowledging the autonomy of social media platforms in content management decisions, Jean-Pierre emphasized the crucial role of these platforms in enforcing their own regulations to curb the spread of fake explicit imagery and misinformation, particularly involving non-consensual dissemination of intimate content.
Highlighting the disproportionate impact of non-consensual distribution of pornographic content on women and girls, Jean-Pierre underscored the urgent need for strict enforcement of regulations to combat online harassment and abuse.
The press secretary outlined steps taken by the Biden administration to address the risks associated with AI-generated imagery, including the establishment of a task force to address online harassment and abuse, along with the launch of a national helpline by the Department of Justice for survivors of image-based sexual abuse.
Regarding the AI-generated images of Taylor Swift, one fabricated image depicted the Grammy-winning artist in an inappropriate pose during a Kansas City Chiefs game, where she often appears to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, a player on the team.
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) issued a strong condemnation of the images, labeling them as "upsetting, harmful, and deeply concerning" and advocating for legislation to criminalize the creation and dissemination of fake explicit images without consent.
In a separate incident involving US President Joe Biden, an AI-generated 'robocall' surfaced in New Hampshire earlier in the week, urging Democrats to abstain from voting. The call utilized fake audio purportedly of Biden, prompting an investigation by the New Hampshire attorney general into what was described as an "unlawful attempt to disrupt the New Hampshire Presidential Primary Election and to suppress New Hampshire voters."
