Taylor Swift Is Searchable On X Again After Shocking AI Deepfakes Of The Singer Went Viral

Singer Taylor Swift is finally searchable on X (formerly Twitter) after the star's name was blocked on the platform due to explicit AI-generated images of her going viral.

The crude deepfakes led to an online outcry from fans of the singer, who condemned the people sharing the photos and mass-reported the accounts. Shortly after, the account that shared the images was suspended.

Besides Swifties, several other well-known bodies, including the White House, have spoken out against AI deepfakes and called for regulations.

The social media platform took swift action against viral explicit images of the "Out of the Woods" singer, even going as far as making her name unsearchable on the platform.

At the time, attempts to search Swift's name on X resulted in an error message: "Something went wrong. Try reloading."

Deepfakes use AI to create fake images or "undress" actual photos. Swift's graphic deepfakes depicted her in obscene and compromising sexual situations, which caused outrage among her fans.

After the singer's boyfriend, Travis Kelce's team, the Kansas City Chiefs, won the AFC Championship to score a spot at this year's Super Bowl, photos of the couple flooded the platform, with her name finally searchable again.

The Elon Musk-owned social media platform said, "Search has been re-enabled, and we will continue to be vigilant for any attempt to spread this content and will remove it if we find it."

After the explicit AI images went viral on social media, several organizations condemned the photos and emphasized the need for AI regulation.

Addressing the shocking images, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated, "We are alarmed by the reports of the…circulation of images that you just laid out - of false images to be more exact, and it is alarming."

She added, "While social media companies make their own independent decisions about content management, we believe they have an important role to play in enforcing their own rules to prevent the spread of misinformation and non-consensual, intimate imagery of real people."

According to reports, the creators of the deepfakes used a Microsoft tool. Although the company has not commented on this, CEO Satya Nadella addressed the issue of the crude photos of Swift.

He said, "I would say two things: One, is again I go back to what I think's our responsibility, which is all of the guardrails that we need to place around the technology so that there's more safe content that's being produced."

Satya continued, "And there's a lot to be done and a lot being done there. But it is about global, societal — you know, I'll say, convergence on certain norms. And we can do — especially when you have law and law enforcement and tech platforms that can come together — I think we can govern a lot more than we think— we give ourselves credit for."

SAG-AFTRA also spoke out against the disturbing use of AI deepfakes after the Swift images went viral, noting that it should be made illegal.

The organization said, "The sexually explicit, A.I.-generated images depicting Taylor Swift are upsetting, harmful, and deeply concerning. The development and dissemination of fake images — especially those of a lewd nature — without someone's consent must be made illegal."

Although Swift has yet to comment on the photos publicly, a source close to the singer told the Daily Mail that she was "furious" and considering taking legal action.

They said, "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."

The source added, "Taylor's circle of family and friends are furious, as are her fans, obviously. They have the right to be, and every woman should be. The door needs to be shut on this. Legislation needs to be passed to prevent this and laws must be enacted."

Amid the chaos of the photos, Swift looked very happy while cheering on her boyfriend Kelce on Sunday after the Kansas City Chiefs beat The Baltimore Ravens to secure a spot in the 2024  Super Bowl.