Check Abuse Of Artificial Intelligence

As science advances and the digital age has taken over the daily life styles of humans all over the world, new forms of crimes are advancing. Computers have now become a lifeline for people’s livelihoods. As people are relying on computers as a tool of their earning, communicating and entertaining, it is now becoming a potential threat of controlling several aspects of human lives including a source of various crimes.  This is something that needs to be taught to all during basic education so that they are aware of the threats and can protect themselves as far as possible. 

Last week the media all over the world was abuzz with a digital crime committed against one of the most popular celebrities on earth. Taylor Swift is a 34-year-old American singer and song writer who started working since the age of 14 and is one of the most popular personalities covered by media globally. Her songwriting, artistry and entrepreneurship is known to have influenced the music industry. She is a role model for youth around the world and universities offer courses on her work. On Wednesday 24, 2024, this popular individual became the subject of a crime which is now recognised as the most dangerous form of crime during this digital age. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated sexually explicit images of Taylor Swift was circulated on social media sites, gaining more traction on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

According to Aljazeera, one image of the megastar was seen 47 million times during the approximately 17 hours it was live on X before it was removed on Thursday. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now becoming a household name which many do not understand but which probably has started affecting all. AI is the technology that enables a computer to think or act in a more human way. Computers take in information from its surroundings and give responses based on what it learns or senses. According to a BBC site, AI affects the way we live, work and have fun and sometimes without us even realising it. As the digital age is advancing, technology is becoming more and more advanced. Machines are now made to think and this enables them to learn from their mistakes and change how they approach a particular subject the next time.  

Deepfake technologies

Robots are the most common examples of AI demonstration and some scientists are even trying to teach robots about feelings and emotions. The devices that have become household necessities like the mobiles, video games etc are now very much dependent on AI technology and most of us are now passing our days without realising what influences they have on us. One simple example of AI influence in our daily lives is how this technology is used by our mobile phones, social media and the entertainment companies like Netflix. They are attuned to sense our preferences. Thus our devices get flooded with services and products that we may want or unknowingly start using even when we do not have the need to do so.  Together with the advance of Artificial Intelligence, deepfake technologies are advancing too. 

In this 21st century, deepfakes use a form of artificial intelligence called deep learning to make images of fake events thus known as deepfake. This technology has been used in the past to share fake videos where world leaders are shown to be saying and doing things that are not true and celebrities have been faked as pornography stars. According to the site IEEE Spectrum, deepfake technology can seamlessly stitch anyone in the world into a video or photo they never actually participated in. Such capabilities have existed for decades and several unpleasant fake incidents have been circulated. This technology can be used in a positive way with consent from the relevant sources to advance the work of entertainment and documentation and save time, money and energy.

 Unfortunately, while wrongly used, AI has caused several misinformation which has had adverse impact on individuals and several social and political causes. According to Associated Press news agency, the deepfake-detecting group Reality Defender tracked down dozens of unique images of Taylor Swift that spread to millions of people across the internet before removing it. X has banned searches for Swift and queries relating to the photos. Deepfakes can be very sophisticated and difficult to identify as being fake, but there are some with poor quality visuals which can be identified easily. There are AI tools like Midjourney, Deepfakes web and DALL-E available to users for free or at low fee which are used to generate images which could hamper certain causes and individuals. 

Women in target

A report by Sensity AI, an intelligence company focussed on detecting deepfakes, states that more than 96 per cent of deepfakes images currently online are of a pornographic nature, and nearly all of them target women. A study conducted by the Dawes Centre for Future Crime highlights the fact that there is potential misuse of AI technology for criminal purposes. It mentions that while the AI has the potential to revolutionise various industries, its misuse poses significant challenges to the society. 

With the advance of science and technology, laws need to be formulated which will protect innocent citizens from unforeseen crimes. There also needs to be an awareness created among people to understand what AI actually is and how it could be used by powerful people in their favour.  For now, the fans of Taylor Swift are protesting against the use of AI to tarnish her image. Celebrities like Swift are global icons who have created history in their work and contribution to not only their country but also around the world. There needs to be a mechanism to stop them from being harassed. 

(Sharma is a senior journalist and women rights advocate. namrata1964@yahoo.com Twitter handle: @NamrataSharmaP)