SAG-AFTRA expressed strong disapproval of the AI-generated graphic images of Taylor Swift that went viral on X (formerly Twitter) this week. In a statement issued on Friday, they described the content as "upsetting, harmful, and deeply concerning. " The union called for the development and dissemination of fake and explicit images without consent to be made illegal. Additionally, they showed support for Congressman Joe Morelle's Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act to combat this practice. SAG-AFTRA emphasized the need for society to take control of these technologies before it's too late, extending support to Taylor and all women whose privacy and autonomy are violated due to such theft. The circulation of these images sparked significant discussions online and on Capitol Hill about the necessity for stronger protections against AI and content moderation. One tweet featuring an AI-generated explicit image of the pop star remained on the platform for approximately 17 hours, accumulating 45 million views before it was finally taken down. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the incident during a press conference on Friday, expressing alarm and calling upon social media companies to enforce content moderation policies more effectively.

She urged Congress to pass legislation to protect against such issues, emphasizing the need to combat the spread of false and misleading information. While AI deepfake porn is one unsettling application of the technology, unauthorized use of AI to create new material without artists' permission has also been a concern. For example, this week saw George Carlin's estate filing a lawsuit over the unauthorized use of his works to create a new comedy special. Last year, the AI-generated song "Heart on My Sleeve" by Drake and The Weeknd caused significant controversy, leading UMG to pressure streaming platforms to remove infringing content that utilized AI. AI was a major topic of negotiation during SAG's strike last year, and the union also expressed support for the Human Artistry Campaign. This initiative, led by influential music and entertainment groups worldwide, aims to prioritize human creativity and ensure that AI does not overshadow the role of human artists.