Taylor Swift’s Searches Are Restricted on X/Twitter – Find Out the Reason Behind It

Social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, has implemented a block on searches of Taylor Swift’s name in an effort to address the proliferation of sexually explicit deepfakes featuring the pop star. This move highlights the challenges faced in tackling such content.

Joe Benarroch, head of business operations at X, stated in an email to TIME that this action is temporary and has been taken with caution to prioritize safety. As of now, searches for Taylor Swift’s name on X remain inaccessible.

X’s Safety account on the platform recently posted that non-consensual nudity is strictly prohibited and the company maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards such content. They have been actively removing identified images and taking appropriate actions against the responsible accounts. Their aim is to create a safe and respectful environment for all users.

TIME has reached out to Swift’s publicist for comment on this matter.

The deepfakes featuring Taylor Swift have brought attention to the issue of AI-generated pornography, where an individual’s face is superimposed onto explicit media without their consent. This highlights the need for stronger legal protections as regulations struggle to keep up with technology advancements. X acknowledges that blocking searches is only a temporary solution and not a long-term fix for this widespread problem.

According to media analyst Sensity, 96% of all deepfakes online in 2019 were nonconsensual pornography, primarily targeting women. The FBI has warned about the potential use of this content for sextortion and criminal financial gain.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed concern about the Swift deepfakes, emphasizing the important role social media companies play in enforcing their own content management rules to prevent the spread of misinformation and non-consensual intimate imagery.

While deepfake legislation exists in 10 states, there is currently no federal law addressing this issue. However, legislators in Congress are taking steps to outlaw deepfakes. Representative Joe Morelle introduced the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, while Representative Yvette Clarke introduced the DEEPFAKES Accountability Act, both aimed at protecting against national security threats and providing legal recourse for victims.

In January, legislators introduced the No Artificial Intelligence Fake Replicas And Unauthorized Duplications (No AI Fraud) Act to safeguard Americans from AI-manipulated voice and image content.

Regarding proposed legislation, Press Secretary Jean-Pierre acknowledged the need for laws to address this issue. She highlighted President Joe Biden’s actions, including an executive order on governing generative AI and the creation of a task force to combat online harassment.