Deepfake Porn: Exposing the Need for Stronger Protections


Two troubling cases of AI-generated nude images of underage girls have recently surfaced, one in New Jersey and the other in Washington state.

These incidents have brought to light the pressing need for stronger safeguards for victims of this kind of abuse. In response to these concerns, several states have enacted legislation criminalizing the creation and distribution of nonconsensual deepfake pornography. 

However, there is currently no federal law addressing this issue.

Advocates and legal experts are calling for the implementation of federal regulations to establish consistent protections across the country and send a clear message to both current and potential perpetrators. In October, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that prohibits the use of generative AI to produce child sexual abuse material or non-consensual "intimate imagery of real individuals."

U.S. Rep. Tom Kean, Jr., a Republican representing Westfield, New Jersey, introduced a bill on Monday that would mandate developers to include disclosures on AI-generated content. Additionally, U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle, a New York Democrat, has proposed a bill that would criminalize the online sharing of deepfake porn images.

While these legislative efforts are underway, some organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and The Media Coalition, are urging caution and emphasizing the need for careful consideration to avoid proposals that could potentially infringe upon First Amendment rights.

In response to the New Jersey incident, Dorota Mani, the mother of one of the targeted girls, has established a website and a charity organization dedicated to assisting victims of AI-generated abuse. Mani and her daughter have also been actively engaging with state lawmakers advocating for the passage of the New Jersey bill and are planning a trip to Washington, D.C., to lobby for further protections.

Mani poignantly expressed her concern for other potential victims, stating, "Not every child, boy or girl, will have the support system to deal with this issue. And they might not see the light at the end of the tunnel."
 

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