A Wisconsin man, Steven Anderegg, has been charged by the FBI for creating over 10,000 sexually explicit and abusive images of children using AI. The 42-year-old allegedly used the popular AI tool Stable Diffusion to generate around 13,000 hyper-realistic images depicting prepubescent children in disturbing and explicit scenarios. Authorities discovered these images on his laptop following a tip-off from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), which had flagged his Instagram activity.
Anderegg’s charges include creating, distributing, and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), as well as sending explicit content to a minor. If convicted, he faces up to 70 years in prison. The following case marks one of the first instances where the FBI has charged someone for generating AI-created child abuse material. The rise in such cases has prompted significant concern among child safety advocates and AI researchers, who warn of the increasing potential for AI to facilitate the creation of harmful content.
Reports of online child abuse have surged, partly due to the proliferation of AI-generated material. In 2023, the NCMEC noted a 12% increase in flagged incidents, straining their resources. The Department of Justice has reaffirmed its commitment to prosecuting those who exploit AI to create CSAM, emphasising that AI-generated explicit content is equally punishable under the law.
Stable Diffusion, an open-source AI model, has been identified as a tool used to generate such material. Stability AI, the company behind its development, has stated that the model used by Anderegg was an earlier version created by another startup, RunwayML. Stability AI asserts that it has since implemented stronger safeguards to prevent misuse and prohibits creating illegal content with its tools.
Scarlett Johansson has accused OpenAI of creating a voice for its ChatGPT system that sounds ‘eerily similar’ to hers despite declining an offer to voice the chatbot herself. Johansson’s statement, released Monday, followed OpenAI’s announcement to withdraw the voice known as ‘Sky’.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman clarified that a different professional actress performed Sky’s voice and was not meant to imitate Johansson. He expressed regret for not communicating better and paused the use of Sky’s voice out of respect for Johansson.
Johansson revealed that Altman had approached her last September with an offer to voice a ChatGPT feature, which she turned down. She stated that the resemblance of Sky’s voice to her own shocked and angered her, noting that even her friends and the public found the similarity striking. The actress suggested that Altman might have intentionally chosen a voice resembling hers, referencing his tweet about ‘Her’, a film where Johansson voices an AI assistant.
Why does it matter?
The controversy highlights a growing issue in Hollywood concerning the use of AI to replicate actors’ voices and likenesses. Johansson’s concerns reflect broader industry anxieties as AI technology advances, making computer-generated voices and images increasingly indistinguishable from human ones. She has hired legal counsel to investigate the creation process of Sky’s voice.
OpenAI recently introduced its latest AI model, GPT-4o, featuring audio capabilities that enable users to converse with the chatbot in real-time, showcasing a leap forward in creating more lifelike AI interactions. Scarlett Johansson’s accusations underline the ongoing challenges and ethical considerations of using AI in entertainment.
The UK’s AI safety institute is set to open an office in the US this summer, aiming to enhance international collaboration on AI regulation. The new office in San Francisco will recruit technical staff to support the institute’s efforts in London and strengthen connections with its US counterparts. The new office opening underscores the need for coordinated global efforts to manage AI’s rapid advancements and potential risks. Experts have highlighted the existential threats AI could pose, comparable to nuclear weapons or climate change, making international regulation crucial.
Why does it matter?
This announcement comes just before Seoul’s second global AI safety summit, co-hosted by the British and South Korean governments. The summit will bring together leaders to discuss AI safety, innovation, and inclusion.
The initiative follows significant concerns raised after OpenAI released ChatGPT in November 2022, prompting calls for a development pause due to unpredictable threats. The first AI safety summit at Britain’s Bletchley Park saw world leaders and tech executives, including US Vice President Kamala Harris and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, discuss regulatory approaches.
The summit fostered cooperation despite global tensions, with China signing the ‘Bletchley Declaration’ alongside the US and others. Britain’s technology minister, Michele Donelan, emphasised the importance of international standards on AI safety, which will be a key topic at the upcoming Seoul summit.
South Korea and the UK are set to co-host the second global AI summit in Seoul this week, a response to the rapid advancements in AI since the first summit in November. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will lead a virtual summit on Tuesday, emphasising the urgent need for improved AI regulation amidst growing concerns over the impact of technology on society.
In a joint article, leaders of the UK and South Korea highlighted the necessity for global AI standards to prevent a ‘race to the bottom’. The summit, now called the AI Seoul Summit, will address AI safety, innovation, and inclusion. A recent global AI safety report underlined potential risks such as labour market disruptions, AI-enabled cyber attacks, and the loss of control over AI, stressing that societal and governmental decisions will shape the future of AI.
Why does it matter?
Initially focused on AI safety, the November summit saw prominent figures like Elon Musk and Sam Altman engage in discussions, with China signing the ‘Bletchley Declaration’ on AI risk management alongside the US and others. This week’s events will include a virtual summit on Tuesday and an in-person session on Wednesday featuring key industry players from companies like Anthropic, OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Microsoft, Meta, and IBM.
Two voice actors have filed a lawsuit against AI startup Lovo in Manhattan federal court, alleging that the company illegally copied their voices for use in its AI voiceover technology without permission. Paul Skye Lehrman and Linnea Sage claim Lovo tricked them into providing voice samples under false pretences and is now selling AI versions of their voices. They seek at least $5 million in damages for the proposed class-action suit, accusing Lovo of fraud, false advertising, and violating their publicity rights.
The actors were approached via the freelance platform Fiverr for voiceover work, with Lehrman being told his voice would be used for a research project and Sage for test scripts for radio ads. However, Lehrman later discovered AI versions of his voice in YouTube videos and podcasts, while Sage found her voice in Lovo’s promotional materials. It was revealed that their Fiverr clients were actually Lovo employees, and the company was selling their voices under pseudonyms.
The mentioned lawsuit adds to the growing list of legal actions against tech companies for allegedly misusing content to train AI systems. Lehrman and Sage seek to prevent similar misuse of voices by Lovo and other companies, emphasising the need for accountability in the AI industry. Lovo has not yet responded to the allegations.
Microsoft is offering its China-based employees working in AI the opportunity to relocate to overseas locations such as the US, Australia, and Ireland, according to sources familiar with the matter. The offer extends to Azure cloud computing team employees, who were notified earlier this week and have until 7 June to decide. Those who opt not to relocate can remain with the China team, although Microsoft has halted new hiring in China, eliminating job openings.
The relocation program affects approximately 700 to 800 people, primarily those engaged in machine learning. Microsoft has offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Suzhou but has not responded to requests for comment regarding the relocation offer. Last year, Microsoft relocated some of its top AI researchers from China to a new research lab in Vancouver, Canada, as part of its broader AI strategy.
Despite these tensions, Microsoft remains committed to its AI services in mainland China and Hong Kong, distinguishing itself from competitors like OpenAI and Google, which have restricted access to their AI products in these regions. The potential restrictions on AI software exports would add to existing limitations on Chinese firms’ access to advanced semiconductor technology, further complicating US-China relations in the tech sector.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill to strengthen the Biden administration’s ability to regulate the export of AI models, focusing on protecting US technology from potential misuse by foreign competitors. Sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats, the bill proposes granting the Commerce Department explicit authority to control AI exports deemed risky to national security and to prohibit collaboration between Americans and foreigners on such systems.
The bill points to strengthening legal oversight due to the pressing need to protect US AI technology from hostile exploitation. The emerging concerns are advanced AI models, which can process vast amounts of data and generate content that adversaries could exploit for cyber attacks or even the development of biological weapons.
While the Commerce Department and the White House have yet to comment on the bill, reports suggest that the US is gearing up to implement export controls on proprietary AI models to counter threats China and Russia pose. Current US laws make it challenging to regulate the export of open-source AI models, which are freely accessible. The legal measure would, therefore, streamline regulations, particularly regarding open-source AI, and grant the Commerce Department enhanced oversight over AI systems if approved.
Why does it matter?
The introduction of this bill is set against the backdrop of intensifying global competition in AI development. China, for instance, heavily relies on open-source models like Meta Platforms’ ‘Llama’ series. Recent revelations about using these models by Chinese AI firms have raised concerns about intellectual property and security risks. Furthermore, Microsoft’s significant investment in a UAE-based AI firm, G42, has sparked a debate over the implications of deepening ties between Gulf states and China, leading to security agreements between the US, UAE, and Microsoft.
Turkey’s competition board has levied a substantial fine of 1.2 billion lire ($37.20 million) against Meta Platforms following investigations into data-sharing practices across its social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads. The board launched an inquiry last December, particularly focusing on potential competition law violations related to integrating Threads and Instagram.
As part of its findings, the competition board imposed an interim measure in March to restrict data sharing between Threads and Instagram. In response, Meta announced the temporary shutdown of Threads in Turkey to comply with the interim order, reflecting the company’s efforts to adhere to regulatory directives.
The fine encompasses two separate investigations, with 898 million lira attributed to the compliance process and investigations related to Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, and an additional 336 million lira for the inquiry into Threads. The board’s decision emphasises the importance of user consent and notification regarding data usage, ensuring transparency and control over personal data across Meta’s platforms.
Previously, the competition board had imposed fines on Meta, including daily penalties for insufficient documentation and notifications about data-sharing. While these penalties concluded on 3 May 2024, the recent fine extends the ongoing regulatory scrutiny over Meta’s business practices, echoing similar actions taken by regulatory authorities globally to ensure compliance with competition and data protection laws.
TikTok has filed a lawsuit against the US government, challenging a new law that requires the app to sever ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban in the US. The company argues that the law is unconstitutional and deems it impossible to sell the app from ByteDance, stating that it would instead result in a shutdown by 19 January 2025.
Namely, the law, signed by President Joe Biden last month, grants ByteDance nine months to divest TikTok or cease its operations in the US, citing national security concerns. However, TikTok’s complaint argues that the government has not presented sufficient evidence of the Chinese government misusing the app. Concerns expressed by individual members of Congress and a congressional committee report are speculative about the potential misuse of TikTok in the future without citing specific instances of misconduct. However, TikTok asserts that it has operated prominently in the US since its launch in 2017.
The app contends that a ban in the US would be unfeasible due to the complex task of transferring millions of lines of software code from ByteDance to a new owner. Additionally, restrictions imposed by the Chinese government would prevent the sale of TikTok along with its algorithm. TikTok argues that such a ban would effectively isolate American users and undermine its business, mentioning also its previous efforts to address US government concerns.
During the Trump administration, discussions were held regarding partnerships with American companies such as Walmart, Microsoft, and Oracle to separate TikTok’s US operations. However, these potential deals have yet to materialise. TikTok also attempted to appease the government by storing US user data in Oracle’s servers, although a recent report suggests that this action was primarily cosmetic.
TikTok seeks a court judgement to declare the Biden administration’s legislation unconstitutional in response to the new law. The company also requests an order to prevent the attorney general from enforcing the law.
According to reports, a significant cyberattack targeted the UK Ministry of Defence, exposing the sensitive details of tens of thousands of armed forces personnel. The breach, believed to have occurred multiple times on a third-party payroll system, prompted the MoD to assess the extent of the hack over three days. While the Ministry has not confirmed any data theft, it reassured service members about their safety amid the incident.
The attack follows earlier attributions of cyberattacks to Chinese ‘state-affiliated actors’ in the UK between 2021 and 2022. In March, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden disclosed sanctions against individuals and a company linked to the Chinese state for alleged malicious cyber activities, including attacks on the Electoral Commission. These actions underscore a growing concern over cyber threats originating from China.
While Chinese President Xi Jinping embarked on a European tour, the cyberattack allegations persisted, with French lawmakers targeted by similar incidents urging an official investigation. Despite mounting accusations, French authorities refrained from directly attributing the attacks to China, contrasting with formal accusations made by the US, UK, and New Zealand. As President Xi continues his diplomatic engagements in Europe, with planned visits to Serbia and Hungary, the cybersecurity landscape remains a pressing issue, with nations navigating the complexities of state-sponsored cyber activities.
