US legislators have introduced a bill called the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits (DEFIANCE) Act in response to mounting issues of AI-pitched explicit images. For instance, Singer Taylor Swift was recently a victim of such scandalous AI-manufactured images.
The progression stirred outraged reactions from the general public, swift’s fans (who initiated a widespread social media movement to counter the explicit content), and high-profile figures including the Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and the White House. The DEFIANCE Act is aimed at empowering victims of such violation by giving them a legal haven to counter sue for damages.
A growing concern over eerily realistic political deep fakes, as well as AI-assisted fake audios, led to this bipartisan initiative. Durbin, the Senate Majority Whip, supported by Senators Lindsey Graham, Amy Klobuchar, and Josh Hawley, proposed it. It elaborates on the legal framework laid down by the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022, similarly tackling explicit non-faked images.
The bill is designed to counter the escalating problem of sexually explicit AI-manipulated images. Generative AI tools have made it shockingly simple for anyone to create these damaging deep fakes using tools curated by even reputed names like Microsoft and OpenAI. This has led to a surge in cases of misinformation, harassment, and blackmail.
Not limited to just AI-generated images, DEFIANCE also encompasses any sexually explicit image that has been technologically altered to appear authentic. As long as the result is convincingly real, even older tools like Photoshop fall under its radar.
Highlighting its importance, Senator Josh Hawley stated, “No one should ever find themselves featured in AI pornography. Innocent people have the right to defend their reputacies and bring culprits to court. This bill is the step towards making that a reality.”
Even though DEFIANCE marks a forward step in tackling the legal loopholes surrounding non-consensual AI-rendered explicit images, apprehension over its influence on artistic freedom and political satire persist. Hence, it remains to be seen how effective this bill will be, considering the continuously evolving nature of AI technology.
