Study Finds Fake and Explicit Images of Taylor Swift Originated on 4chan
The content focuses on images of Taylor Swift that were generated by artificial intelligence and spread rapidly across social media in late January. These images are thought to have originated from a recurring challenge on the message board 4chan. Graphika, a research firm that studies disinformation, traced the origin of the images to 4chan, a notorious message board known for sharing inappropriate and offensive content created using A.I.
The individuals on 4chan generated these images of the singer as part of a game or challenge to create inappropriate images of famous female figures. These synthetic Swift images spread to other platforms and were viewed millions of times, triggering defense from Swift’s fans and calls for stronger protection against A.I.-created images.
Graphika found messages on 4chan encouraging people to bypass safeguards set up by image generator tools and share tips to evade filters. This practice of sharing unsavory content through games allows individuals to feel connected to a larger community and earn recognition for participating.
Many actresses, singers, and politicians, in addition to Ms. Swift, were featured in the 4chan community that manipulated her likeness.
OpenAI stated that the explicit images of Ms. Swift were not generated using its tools and that it filters out the most explicit content. The company has also implemented safety measures to prevent the misuse of its tools for creating adult or intimate content without consent.
After the images went viral, the White House press secretary expressed concern over the situation, calling it “alarming” and noting the disproportionate impact of lax enforcement by social media companies on women and girls. The situation prompted action from the Justice Department, including the funding of the first national helpline for people targeted by image-based sexual abuse.
Artificially generated versions of Ms. Swift have also been used for various scams and disinformation campaigns. Researchers discovered that the first sexually explicit A.I. image of Ms. Swift appeared on 4chan before spreading to mainstream social media platforms.
For several days, X blocked searches for Taylor Swift “with an abundance of caution” to clean up and remove the inappropriate imagery.