Jump to content

Deepfake pornography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from DeepNude)
Part of a series on
Artificial intelligence
Major goals
Approaches
Applications
Philosophy
History
Glossary

Deepfake pornography, or simply fake pornography, is a type of synthetic pornography that is created via altering already-existing photographs or video by applying deepfake technology to the images of the participants. The use of deepfake porn has sparked controversy because it involves the making and sharing of realistic videos featuring non-consenting individuals, typically female celebrities, and is sometimes used for revenge porn. Efforts are being made to combat these ethical concerns through legislation and technology-based solutions.

History

[edit]

The term "deepfake" was coined in 2017 on a Reddit forum where users shared altered pornographic videos created using machine learning algorithms. It is a combination of the word "deep learning", which refers to the program used to create the videos, and "fake" meaning the videos are not real.[1]

Deepfake porn was originally created on a small individual scale using a combination of machine learning algorithms, computer vision techniques, and AI software. The process began by gathering a large amount of source material (including both images and videos) of a person's face, and then using a deep learning model to train a Generative Adversarial Network to create a fake video that convincingly swaps the face of the source material onto the body of a porn performer. However, the production process has significantly evolved since 2018, with the advent of several public apps that have largely automated the process.[2]

Deepfake pornography is sometimes confused with fake nude photography, but the two are mostly different. Fake nude photography typically uses non-sexual images and merely makes it appear that the people in them are nude.

Notable cases

[edit]

Deepfake technology has been used to create non-consensual and pornographic images and videos of famous women. One of the earliest examples occurred in 2017 when a deepfake pornographic video of Gal Gadot was created by a Reddit user and quickly spread online. Since then, there have been numerous instances of similar deepfake content targeting other female celebrities, such as Emma Watson, Natalie Portman, and Scarlett Johansson.[3] Johansson spoke publicly on the issue in December 2018, condemning the practice but also refusing legal action because she views the harassment as inevitable.[4]

Rana Ayyub

[edit]

In 2018, Rana Ayyub, an Indian investigative journalist, was the target of an online hate campaign stemming from her condemnation of the Indian government, specifically her speaking out against the rape of an eight-year-old Kashmiri girl. Ayyub was bombarded with rape and death threats, and had doctored pornographic video of her circulated online.[5] In a Huffington Post article, Ayyub discussed the long-lasting psychological and social effects this experience has had on her. She explained that she continued to struggle with her mental health and how the images and videos continued to resurface whenever she took a high-profile case.[6]

Atrioc controversy

[edit]

In 2023, Twitch streamer Atrioc stirred controversy when he accidentally revealed deepfake pornographic material featuring female Twitch streamers while on live. The influencer has since admitted to paying for AI generated porn, and apologized to the women and his fans.[7][8]

Taylor Swift

[edit]
Main article: Taylor Swift deepfake pornography controversy

In January 2024, AI-generated sexually explicit images of American singer Taylor Swift were posted on X (formerly Twitter), and spread to other platforms such as Facebook, Reddit and Instagram.[9][10][11] One tweet with the images was viewed over 45 million times before being removed.[12][10] A report from 404 Media found that the images appeared to have originated from a Telegram group, whose members used tools such as Microsoft Designer to generate the images, using misspellings and keyword hacks to work around Designer's content filters.[13][14] After the material was posted, Swift's fans posted concert footage and images to bury the deepfake images, and reported the accounts posting the deepfakes.[15] Searches for Swift's name were temporarily disabled on X, returning an error message instead.[16] Graphika, a disinformation research firm, traced the creation of the images back to a 4chan community.[17][18]

A source close to Swift told the Daily Mail that she would be considering legal action, saying, "Whether or not legal action will be taken is being decided, but there is one thing that is clear: These fake AI-generated images are abusive, offensive, exploitative, and done without Taylor's consent and/or knowledge."[15][19]

The controversy drew condemnation from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre,[20] Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella,[21] the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network,[22] and SAG-AFTRA.[23] Several US politicians called for federal legislation against deepfake pornography.[24] Later in the month, US senators Dick Durbin, Lindsey Graham, Amy Klobuchar and Josh Hawley introduced a bipartisan bill that would allow victims to sue individuals who produced or possessed "digital forgeries" with intent to distribute, or those who received the material knowing it was made non-consensually.[25]

2024 Telegram deepfake scandal

[edit]

It emerged in South Korea in August 2024 that many teachers and female students were victims of deepfake images created by users who utilized AI technology. Journalist Ko Narin of Hankyoreh uncovered the deepfake images through Telegram chats.[26][27][28] On Telegram, group chats were created specifically for image-based sexual abuse of women, including middle and high school students, teachers, and even family members. Women with photos on social media platforms like KakaoTalk, Instagram, and Facebook are often targeted as well. Perpetrators use AI bots to generate fake images, which are then sold or widely shared, along with the victims’ social media accounts, phone numbers, and KakaoTalk usernames. One Telegram group reportedly drew around 220,000 members, according to a Guardian report.

Investigations revealed numerous chat groups on Telegram where users, mainly teenagers, create and share explicit deepfake images of classmates and teachers. The issue came in the wake of a troubling history of digital sex crimes, notably the notorious Nth Room case in 2019. The Korean Teachers Union estimated that more than 200 schools had been affected by these incidents. Activists called for a "national emergency" declaration to address the problem.[29] South Korean police reported over 800 deepfake sex crime cases by the end of September 2024, a stark rise from just 156 cases in 2021, with most victims and offenders being teenagers.[30]

On September 21, 6,000 people gathered at Marronnier Park in northeastern Seoul to demand stronger legal action against deepfake crimes targeting women.[31] On September 26, following widespread outrage over the Telegram scandal, South Korean lawmakers passed a bill criminalizing the possession or viewing of sexually explicit deepfake images and videos, imposing penalties that include prison terms and fines. Under the new law, those caught buying, saving, or watching such material could face up to three years in prison or fines up to 30 million won ($22,600). At the time the bill was proposed, creating sexually explicit deepfakes for distribution carried a maximum penalty of five years, but the new legislation would increase this to seven years, regardless of intent.[30]

By October 2024 it was estimated that "nudify" deep fake bots on Telegram were up to four million monthly users.[32][33]

Ethical considerations

[edit]

Deepfake CSAM

[edit]

Deepfake technology has made the creation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), also often referenced to as child pornography, faster, safer and easier than it has ever been. Deepfakes can be used to produce new CSAM from already existing material or creating CSAM from children who have not been subjected to sexual abuse. Deepfake CSAM can, however, have real and direct implications on children including defamation, grooming, extortion, and bullying.[34]

[edit]

Most of deepfake porn is made with faces of people who did not consent to their image being used in such a sexual way. In 2023, Sensity, an identify verification company, has found that "96% of deepfakes are sexually explicit and feature women who didn’t consent to the creation of the content."[35] Oftentimes, deepfake porn is used to humiliate and harass primarily women in ways similar to revenge porn.

Combatting deepfake pornography

[edit]

Technical approach

[edit]

Deepfake detection has become an increasingly important area of research in recent years as the spread of fake videos and images has become more prevalent. One promising approach to detecting deepfakes is through the use of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), which have shown high accuracy in distinguishing between real and fake images. One CNN-based algorithm that has been developed specifically for deepfake detection is DeepRhythm, which has demonstrated an impressive accuracy score of 0.98 (i.e. successful at detecting deepfake images 98% of the time). This algorithm utilizes a pre-trained CNN to extract features from facial regions of interest and then applies a novel attention mechanism to identify discrepancies between the original and manipulated images. While the development of more sophisticated deepfake technology presents ongoing challenges to detection efforts, the high accuracy of algorithms like DeepRhythm offers a promising tool for identifying and mitigating the spread of harmful deepfakes.[1]

Aside from detection models, there are also video authenticating tools available to the public. In 2019, Deepware launched the first publicly available detection tool which allowed users to easily scan and detect deepfake videos. Similarly, in 2020 Microsoft released a free and user-friendly video authenticator. Users upload a suspected video or input a link, and receive a confidence score to assess the level of manipulation in a deepfake.

[edit]

As of 2023, there is a lack of legislation that specifically addresses deepfake pornography. Instead, the harm caused by its creation and distribution is being addressed by the courts through existing criminal and civil laws.Nudify Me: The Legal Implications of AI-Generated Revenge Porn

Victims of deepfake pornography often have claims for revenge porn, tort claims, and harassment.[36] The legal consequences for revenge porn vary from state to state and country to country.[36][37] For instance, in Canada, the penalty for publishing non-consensual intimate images is up to 5 years in prison,[38] whereas in Malta it is a fine of up to €5,000.[39]

The "Deepfake Accountability Act" was introduced to the United States Congress in 2019 but has died in 2020.[40] It aimed to make the production and distribution of digitally altered visual media that was not disclosed to be such, a criminal offense. The title specifies that making any sexual, non-consensual altered media with the intent of humiliating or otherwise harming the participants, may be fined, imprisoned for up to 5 years or both.[37] A newer version of bill was introduced in 2021 which would have required any "advanced technological false personation records" to contain a watermark and an audiovisual disclosure to identify and explain any altered audio and visual elements. The bill also includes that failure to disclose this information with intent to harass or humiliate a person with an "advanced technological false personation record" containing sexual content "shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both." However this bill has since died in 2023.[41]

In the United Kingdom, the Law Commission for England and Wales recommended reform to criminalise sharing of deepfake pornography in 2022.[42] In 2023, the government announced amendments to the Online Safety Bill to that end. The Online Safety Act 2023 amends the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to criminalise sharing intimate images that shows or "appears to show" another (thus including deepfake images) without consent.[43] In 2024, the Government announced that an offence criminalising the production of deepfake pornographic images would be included in the Criminal Justice Bill of 2024.[44][45] The Bill did not pass before Parliament was dissolved before the general election.

Controlling the distribution

[edit]

While the legal landscape remains undeveloped, victims of deepfake pornography have several tools available to contain and remove content, including securing removal through a court order, intellectual property tools like the DMCA takedown, reporting for terms and conditions violations of the hosting platform, and removal by reporting the content to search engines.[46]

Several major online platforms have taken steps to ban deepfake pornography. As of 2018, gfycat, reddit, Twitter, Discord, and Pornhub have all prohibited the uploading and sharing of deepfake pornographic content on their platforms.[47][48] In September of that same year, Google also added "involuntary synthetic pornographic imagery" to its ban list, allowing individuals to request the removal of such content from search results.[49]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Gaur, Loveleen; Arora, Gursimar Kaur (2022-07-27), DeepFakes, New York: CRC Press, pp. 91–98, doi:10.1201/9781003231493-7, ISBN 978-1-003-23149-3, archived from the original on 2024-03-06, retrieved 2023-04-20
  2. ^ Azmoodeh, Amin, and Ali Dehghantanha. "Deep Fake Detection, Deterrence and Response: Challenges and Opportunities." arXiv.org, 2022.
  3. ^ Roettgers, Janko (2018-02-21). "Porn Producers Offer to Help Hollywood Take Down Deepfake Videos". Variety. Archived from the original on 2019-06-10. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  4. ^ Harwell, Drew (2018-12-31). "Scarlett Johansson on fake AI-generated sex videos: 'Nothing can stop someone from cutting and pasting my image'". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 2019-06-13. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  5. ^ Maddocks, Sophie (2020-06-04). "'A Deepfake Porn Plot Intended to Silence Me': exploring continuities between pornographic and 'political' deep fakes". Porn Studies. 7 (4): 415–423. doi:10.1080/23268743.2020.1757499. ISSN 2326-8743. S2CID 219910130. Archived from the original on 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  6. ^ Ayyub, Rana (2018-11-21). "I Was The Victim Of A Deepfake Porn Plot Intended To Silence Me". HuffPost UK. Archived from the original on 2023-04-20. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  7. ^ Middleton, Amber (2023-02-10). "A Twitch streamer was caught watching deepfake porn of women gamers. Sexual images made without consent can be traumatic and abusive, experts say — and women are the biggest victims". Insider. Archived from the original on 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  8. ^ Patterson, Calum (2023-01-30). "Twitch streamer Atrioc gives tearful apology after paying for deepfakes of female streamers". Dexerto. Archived from the original on 2023-05-09. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  9. ^ Stokel-Walker, Chris (January 25, 2024). "The explicit AI-created images of Taylor Swift flooding the internet highlight a major problem with generative AI". Fast Company. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Belanger, Ashley (2024-01-25). "X can't stop spread of explicit, fake AI Taylor Swift images". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  11. ^ Kelly, Samantha Murphy (2024-01-25). "Explicit, AI-generated Taylor Swift images spread quickly on social media | CNN Business". CNN. Archived from the original on 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  12. ^ Weatherbed, Jess (2024-01-25). "Trolls have flooded X with graphic Taylor Swift AI fakes". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  13. ^ Maiberg, Emanuel; Cole ·, Samantha (2024-01-25). "AI-Generated Taylor Swift Porn Went Viral on Twitter. Here's How It Got There". 404 Media. Archived from the original on 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  14. ^ Belanger, Ashley (2024-01-29). "Drastic moves by X, Microsoft may not stop spread of fake Taylor Swift porn". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  15. ^ a b Zhang, Cat (2024-01-26). "The Swiftie Fight to Protect Taylor Swift From AI". The Cut. Archived from the original on 2024-01-30. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  16. ^ Spangler, Todd (2024-01-27). "X/Twitter Blocks Searches for 'Taylor Swift' as a 'Temporary Action to Prioritize Safety' After Deluge of Explicit AI Fakes". Variety. Archived from the original on 2024-01-28. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  17. ^ Hsu, Tiffany (February 5, 2024). "Fake and Explicit Images of Taylor Swift Started on 4chan, Study Says". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  18. ^ Belanger, Ashley (2024-02-05). "4chan daily challenge sparked deluge of explicit AI Taylor Swift images". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2024-02-09. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  19. ^ Specter, Emma (2024-01-26). "If Anyone Can Stop the Coming AI Hellscape, It's Taylor Swift". Vogue. Archived from the original on 2024-02-06. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  20. ^ "Taylor Swift searches blocked on X after fake explicit images of pop singer spread". The Guardian. Reuters. 2024-01-29. Archived from the original on 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  21. ^ Spangler, Todd (2024-01-26). "Taylor Swift Explicit AI-Generated Deepfakes Are 'Alarming and Terrible,' Microsoft CEO Says: 'We Have to Act'". Variety. Archived from the original on 2024-01-28. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  22. ^ Travers, Karen; Saliba, Emmanuelle (2024-01-27). "Fake explicit Taylor Swift images: White House is 'alarmed'". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2024-01-28. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  23. ^ Millman, Ethan (2024-01-26). "AI-Generated Explicit Taylor Swift Images 'Must Be Made Illegal,' Says SAG-AFTRA". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  24. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (2024-01-27). "Taylor Swift deepfake pornography sparks renewed calls for US legislation". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  25. ^ Montgomery, Blake (January 31, 2024). "Taylor Swift AI images prompt US bill to tackle nonconsensual, sexual deepfakes". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  26. ^ "Inside the deepfake porn crisis engulfing Korean schools". BBC News.
  27. ^ "South Korea police launch probe into whether Telegram abets online sex crimes, Yonhap reports". reuters.
  28. ^ "From spy cams to deepfake porn: fury in South Korea as women targeted again". The Guardian.
  29. ^ "South Korea faces deepfake porn 'emergency'". BBC. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  30. ^ a b "South Korea to criminalize watching or possessing sexually explicit deepfakes". CNN. 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  31. ^ "Thousands rally in Seoul for stronger action against deepfake crimes". Korea Times. 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  32. ^ Caramela, Sammi (2024-10-16). "'Nudify' Deepfake Bots on Telegram Are Up to 4 Million Monthly Users". Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  33. ^ Burgess, Matt (2024-10-15). "Millions of People Are Using Abusive AI 'Nudify' Bots on Telegram". Wired. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  34. ^ Kirchengast, T (2020). "Deepfakes and image manipulation: criminalisation and control". Information & Communications Technology Law. 29 (3): 308–323. doi:10.1080/13600834.2020.1794615. S2CID 221058610.
  35. ^ "Found through Google, bought with Visa and Mastercard: Inside the deepfake porn economy". NBC News. 2023-03-27. Archived from the original on 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  36. ^ a b "Nudify Me: The Legal Implications of AI-Generated Revenge Porn". JD Supra. Archived from the original on 2024-03-14. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  37. ^ a b Kirchengast, Tyrone (2020-07-16). "Deepfakes and image manipulation: criminalisation and control". Information & Communications Technology Law. 29 (3): 308–323. doi:10.1080/13600834.2020.1794615. ISSN 1360-0834. S2CID 221058610. Archived from the original on 2024-01-26. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  38. ^ Branch, Legislative Services (2023-01-16). "Consolidated federal laws of Canada, Criminal Code". laws-lois.justice.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  39. ^ Mania, Karolina (2022). "Legal Protection of Revenge and Deepfake Porn Victims in the European Union: Findings From a Comparative Legal Study". Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. 25 (1): 117–129. doi:10.1177/15248380221143772. PMID 36565267. S2CID 255117036. Archived from the original on 2024-01-26. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  40. ^ "Defending Each and Every Person from False Appearances by Keeping Exploitation Subject to Accountability Act of 2019 (2019 - H.R. 3230)". GovTrack.us. Archived from the original on 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  41. ^ "DEEP FAKES Accountability Act (2021 - H.R. 2395)". GovTrack.us. Archived from the original on 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  42. ^ Hill, Amelia (2022-07-07). "Criminal reforms target 'deepfake' and nonconsensual pornographic imagery". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  43. ^ "Online Safety Act 2023: Section 188", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 2023 c. 50 (s. 188)
  44. ^ "Government cracks down on 'deepfakes' creation". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  45. ^ "Creating sexually explicit deepfakes to become a criminal offence". BBC News. 2024-04-16. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  46. ^ "Un-Nudify Me: Removal Options for Deepfake Pornography Victims". JD Supra. Archived from the original on 2024-03-14. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  47. ^ Kharpal, Arjun (8 February 2018). "Reddit, Pornhub ban videos that use A.I. to superimpose a person's face over an X-rated actor". CNBC. Archived from the original on 2019-04-10. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  48. ^ Cole, Samantha (2018-01-31). "AI-Generated Fake Porn Makers Have Been Kicked Off Their Favorite Host". Vice. Archived from the original on 2023-04-20. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  49. ^ Harwell, Drew (2018-12-30). "Fake-porn videos are being weaponized to harass and humiliate women: 'Everybody is a potential target'". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 2019-06-14. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Deepfake_pornography&oldid=1257663868#DeepNude"