TECH - Elon Musk's X Blocks Taylor Swift Searches Amid Deepfake Dilemma | Benzinga
Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has reportedly temporarily halted searches for pop icon Taylor Swift. This action comes in response to the spread of explicit AI-generated images of the singer.
What Happened: The block was implemented over the weekend following the widespread online circulation of so-called “deepfake” images of Swift. “Deepfake” is a term used to describe realistic images and audio created using artificial intelligence, often used to falsely depict individuals in compromising situations without their consent.
Joe Benarroch, head of business operations at X, stated that the action was temporary and taken “with an abundance of caution as we prioritize safety on this issue.” Swift has not yet made a public statement regarding the issue, reported The Financial Times.
Musk, who acquired X for $44bn in October 2022, has previously cut back on content policing resources and relaxed moderation policies, citing free speech ideals. However, this incident comes as X and other social media giants, including Meta, TikTok, and Google’s YouTube, face increasing pressure to address the misuse of ...