AI-generated nude images of Taylor Swift went viral on X, evading moderation and sparking outrage

Nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfakes featuring Taylor Swift went viral on X, accumulating over 27 million views and 260,000 likes in 19 hours before the account was suspended. The deepfakes depicted Swift in explicit scenarios and continued to circulate on X despite the suspension. The origin of the images is unclear, but a watermark suggests they came from a website known for fake nude celebrity images. AI-detection software by Reality Defender indicated a high likelihood that the images were created using AI technology. This incident highlights the alarming spread of AI-generated content and misinformation online, with platforms like X yet to deploy effective tools to detect such content. While X has banned manipulated media causing harm, addressing sexually explicit deepfakes has been slow. Swift’s fans reportedly initiated a mass-reporting campaign to take down the images, trending hashtags like “Taylor Swift AI” and “Protect Taylor Swift” on X.