Teen’s Deepfake Horror Exposed: The Urgent Plea for Federal Laws to Combat the Alarming Rise in AI Explicit Content!
A teen impacted by non-consensual explicit deepfakes teams up with Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) to advocate for a bipartisan federal bill criminalizing the dissemination of such content.
The Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, introduced by Morelle in May, aims to address the growing menace of nonconsensual deepfake creation and distribution.
The bill, currently under consideration by the House Judiciary Committee, not only seeks to criminalize the non consensual sharing of sexually explicit deepfakes but also introduces a right of private action. This provision empowers victims to sue creators and distributors of the material while preserving their anonymity.
The surge in the production and sharing of non consensual sexually explicit deepfakes, which leverage AI to superimpose victims’ faces onto pornographic content, has become increasingly prevalent.
With the accessibility of tools to create such material and dedicated websites for sharing and monetizing it, the issue has escalated. Presently, US victims face limitations imposed by a fragmented framework of state laws, highlighting the urgent need for federal legislation.
Deepfake Exploitation Unveiled
Francesca Mani, a high school student from New Jersey and a recent victim of deepfake exploitation, shared her harrowing experience during Tuesday’s news conference. Mani revealed that male classmates had created and disseminated sexually explicit deepfakes of her and over 30 other girls.
Despite being assured that the images were destroyed, Mani emphasized the emotional toll, stating, “No kid, teen, or woman should ever have to experience what I went through. I felt sad and helpless.”
Representative Tom Kean, R.-N.J., the first Republican co-sponsor of Morelle’s bill, acknowledged the urgency of the issue. Kean also introduced the AI Labeling Act of 2023, which mandates clear and conspicuous disclosures on AI-generated content.
Morelle stressed the prevalence of deepfake incidents, noting that they affect everyday people across the United States.
Concerns have grown beyond personal impact, with legal expert Mary Anne Franks warning of deepfakes potentially disrupting the 2024 election cycle. Franks highlighted that female politicians have already been targeted by deepfake technology, emphasizing the immediacy of the AI threat.
As the legislative process continues, the push for comprehensive federal legislation remains a crucial step in combating the widespread harm caused by non consensual deepfake exploitation.
