You rely on Google to filter out the worst of the web. But when it comes to explicit deepfakes, the tech giant is letting victims down.
Google’s latest efforts to combat non-consensual deepfake porn are a step in the right direction. But they don’t go far enough.
The company will now make it easier for victims to report and remove deepfakes. It also promises to filter out similar results and remove duplicates.
Google’s new ranking system will lower explicit fake content for searches that include individuals’ names. This should reduce exposure to explicit image results by 70%, as Mashable points out.
However, as Arstechnica reports, Google still resists downranking general searches that might lead to harmful content. Unless a site has received a high volume of removals for fake explicit imagery, it stays put.
This means the most popular deepfake porn sites can continue to thrive. Unless victims band together and mass report them.
It’s a huge oversight. And it puts the onus on victims to police the web.
The rate of explicit deepfake content creation is skyrocketing. There was a 400% increase between 2022 and 2023 alone.
Victims report severe mental, physical, emotional, and financial harm. Some even experience suicidal impulses due to the trauma.
Google is one of the few tech companies taking any action at all. But it needs to do more.
Legislation is in the works to criminalize non-consensual deepfake content. But until then, Google has a responsibility to protect its users.
It’s time for the company to take a hard stance against all deepfake porn. Not just the content that victims report.
The Scope of the Deepfake Problem
Currently, there is no global consensus on laws specifically targeting non-consensual deepfake content. The lack of unified legislation makes it challenging to hold creators and distributors accountable. In the US, Representative Joseph Morelle has introduced the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act. This bill has garnered bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. It’s a promising step towards addressing the issue at a national level.
The rapid growth of explicit deepfakes and the absence of comprehensive laws underscore the scale of the problem. As technology advances, it becomes easier for bad actors to create and spread non-consensual content. Victims are left struggling to protect their privacy and well-being in the face of this growing threat.
Legislative Action
The Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, introduced by Representative Joseph Morelle, is gaining traction in Congress. With 59 sponsors in the House and bipartisan support in the Senate, it’s clear that lawmakers are taking notice of this growing problem.
“We need to send a strong message that creating and sharing non-consensual deepfake content is unacceptable,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar, a co-sponsor of the bill. “This legislation is an important step in protecting victims and holding perpetrators accountable.”
As the political will to address this issue grows, experts predict that more tech companies will follow Google’s lead in implementing measures to combat deepfakes. “It’s not just a matter of doing the right thing,” said tech analyst Sarah Thompson. “Companies that fail to act risk damage to their reputations and potential legal consequences.”
Looking ahead, global legislative action may be on the horizon. The European Union is already considering new rules to regulate AI, including provisions related to deepfakes. As awareness of the problem spreads, other countries are likely to follow suit.
For now, the focus remains on supporting victims and developing new solutions to detect and remove harmful content. “We have a long way to go,” admitted Google spokesperson John Lee. “But we’re committed to working with lawmakers, experts, and our industry peers to make the internet a safer place for everyone.”
Image credit: Google
