Taylor Swift Is No Longer Searchable On X After Explicit AI Images Went Viral

Social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) restricted searches for Taylor Swift's name after non-consensual explicit deep fakes of the star circulated online. The images prompted a mass-reporting campaign, leading to the suspension of the account sharing them.

Swift's fans flooded the platform with supportive messages under hashtags like "Taylor Swift AI" and "Protect Taylor Swift." The incident raises concerns about the misuse of AI-generated content, especially with the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

On Saturday, social media users observed that searches for pop star Taylor Swift's name on the platform X were restricted following the spread of non-consensual explicit deepfake content featuring the pop star on Wednesday.

Attempts to search Swift's name on X resulted in an error message, "Something went wrong. Try reloading."

Deepfakes use AI to generate fabricated images or manipulate real photos by "undressing" them, and the explicit deep fakes of the "Out of the Woods" hitmaker portrayed her in compromising and disturbing sexual scenarios.

At the time of writing, the origin of the offending images remains unclear. However, they bore a watermark indicating potential ties to a site notorious for sharing fake nude celebrity images through "AI deepfake" technology.

After it was posted on X, the explicit deep fake images garnered over 27 million views and 260,000 likes within 19 hours before the account that posted them was suspended after a mass-reporting campaign.

To counteract the effect of the photos, Swift's fans swung into action and flooded the platform with  supportive messages under the hashtag "Protect Taylor Swift."

After Swift's name was removed from X's search, some users expressed relief, with a fan viewing it as the "first step done to safeguard her."

Another fan warned others to "stop searching Taylor Swift AI photos," adding that the "AI creator will go to h---."

A third Swiftie commented: "You can't search Taylor Swift on Twitter anymore kinda happy and sad at the same time."

The recent incident involving misleading AI-generated images of Swift happened as concerns were raised about the potential misuse of AI-generated content for disinformation campaigns during the upcoming United States presidential election this year.

Speaking to CNN, Ben Decker, founder and CEO of Memetica, said: "This is a prime example of the ways in which AI is being unleashed for a lot of nefarious reasons without enough guardrails in place to protect the public square."

Decker emphasized the rapid increase in the exploitation of generative AI tools to create harmful content targeting various public figures.

He expressed concerns about the lack of "effective plans" by social media companies to monitor such content, as X has faced criticism in the past for delayed responses to sexually explicit deep fakes on its platform.

Decker noted: "This is indicative of a larger kind of fracturing content moderation and platform governance because if all the stakeholders – the AI companies, social media companies, regulators and civil society – are not talking about the same things and on the same page about how to address these issues, this type of content is just going to continue to proliferate."

However, Decker highlighted that the targeting of Swift, arguably the biggest pop star in the world, could draw increased attention to the emerging problems associated with AI-generated imagery. He suggested that similar attention might be garnered when it comes to detrimental AI-generated content.

He said: "When you have figures like Taylor Swift who are this big [targeted], maybe this is what prompts action from legislators and tech companies because they can't afford to have America's sweetheart be on a public campaign against them."

Recognizing Swift's substantial influence on the internet, Decker added: "I would argue they need to make her feel better because she does carry probably more clout than almost anyone else on the internet."

After the circulation of the disturbing AI images of Swift, reports claim that the singer is "furious" and intends to take legal action against a deepfake adult film site that published the pictures. Swift herself has yet to address the issue publicly.