“Protect Taylor Swift.”
The three-word phrase became a rallying cry on X (formerly Twitter) for fans expressing support for the Grammy-winning singer, whose image was used in a series of sexually explicit AI-generated images that circulated online social this month. The manipulated images, also known as deepfakes, were pornographic in nature and referenced the “Midnights” singer's high-profile romance with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
When the images spread early Thursday morning, several Swifties took it upon themselves to report the X accounts that share Swift deepfakes. “It's really scary that they exist. Please report and pay no further attention to those tweets,” said user @naboocoffee, who shared a screenshot of his reporting activity.
“We have to protect Taylor Swift from all this AI b-. “I don't care if she doesn't know me, it's basic human decency not to allow your image to be exploited by making AI porn!!!” aware @always hero13.
“Protect it, don't misuse technology” wrote @WhyParker_. “Taylor Swift's AI is disgusting.”
A representative for Swift did not immediately respond to The Times' request for comment on Thursday.
The widely circulated Swift deepfakes are the latest indication that explicit AI material overwhelmingly affects women and children. In December, a New Jersey mother urged lawmakers to enact more protections against artificial intelligence technology after fake nude images of her 14-year-old daughter and other classmates circulated at her high school.
Last year, popular Twitch streamers Imane “Pokimane” Anys, Maya Higa, and QTCinderella spoke against AI after learning that her images were used without her consent for a deepfake porn website.
“Everyone, fucking stop. Stop spreading it. Stop advertising it. Arrest,” tweeted QT Cinderella. “Being seen 'naked' against your will SHOULD NOT BE PART OF THIS JOB.”
In recent years, AI has become a headache for Hollywood and other creators. In the midst of last year's actors' strike. Tom Hanks warned his fans about an ad for a dental plan that used an “AI version of me.”
“I have nothing to do with it,” he said in an Instagram post.
Swift may be a high-profile star who reportedly joined the billionaire club last year, but her fans say she is still a “real person” who deserves respect and dignity.
“'She's a white billionaire' is never an excuse to spread images of women sexualized by AI,” saying @jdjoshi60. “PROTECT TAYLOR SWIFT.”
Times Editor Brian Contreras and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
