US lawmakers are urging for new laws to make it illegal to create deepfake images. This comes after Taylor Swift deepfakes gained millions of views online.

The pictures were shared on social media platforms like X and Telegram. US Representative Joe Morell described the spread of the images as “shocking” Taylor Swift deepfakes. X said in a statement that they are actively removing the images and taking appropriate action against the accounts involved. They are closely monitoring the situation so that further violations can be addressed immediately.

While many of the photos were removed, one photo of Swift was viewed 47 million times before being taken down. Deepfakes use AI to create manipulated videos. A 2023 study found a 550% increase in medical imaging since 2019 due to advances in AI.

Currently, there is no federal law against sharing or creating deepfake images in the US. In the UK, sharing deepfake pornography becomes illegal in 2023. Representative Joe Morrell, who proposed a bill against sharing deepfake pornography without consent, called for immediate action, particularly emphasizing the emotional, financial and reputational damage it can cause to women.

Representative Tom Kean Jr agreed, stating that AI technology is advancing faster than necessary safeguards. He emphasized the need for measures to combat this trend, regardless of the victim.

Taylor Swift’s team is reportedly considering legal action against the site that published the AI-generated images, although Swift has not publicly addressed the issue.