X lifts ban on Taylor Swift searches after fake explicit images scandal

Social media company X has lifted the ban on searches for Taylor Swift after temporarily blocking users from searching for her due to the spread of fake sexually explicit images. The ban was enacted as a precautionary measure in response to the alarming nature of the pornographic deepfakes that have been circulating on the platform. It has now been lifted, and users can search for Taylor Swift on the platform again.

The ban on searches for Taylor Swift came after the White House expressed its concerns about the spread of fake explicit images and emphasised the responsibility of social media companies in combating misinformation. When the ban was in place, searches for Taylor Swift’s name on X yielded an error message that said, ‘Something went wrong. Try reloading.’ This was a clear indication that the search functionality for Taylor Swift was temporarily disabled.

The severity of the situation became evident when it was reported that one of the fake explicit images of Taylor Swift, shared on X, had been viewed a staggering 47 million times before the account responsible for sharing it was suspended. According to Joe Benarroch, the head of business operations at X, the company will continue to monitor any attempts to spread this explicit content and promptly remove it if found.

Why does it matter?

The issue of deepfake pornography (especially targeting women) has worsened with the advancement of AI technology, and Taylor Swift’s case has brought attention to the problem once again, as even the White House politicians got involved.

Previously, Elon Musk, the owner of X, has faced criticism for his controversial posts and his approach to content moderation on the platform. This criticism has prompted many advertisers on the platform to pull back their spending out of fear of being associated with harmful content.