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Meta's Oversight Board is currently scrutinizing the company's response to the troubling rise of deepfake pornography on its platforms, Facebook and Instagram. This review comes in the wake of two explicit, AI-generated images of female public figures, that have raised significant concerns about the efficacy of Meta's content moderation policies.
The board's action underscores the increasing threat posed by artificial intelligence in creating and disseminating fake explicit imagery. Such technology has been used to target and harass women globally, including high-profile individuals like Taylor Swift and ordinary citizens alike.
Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Co-Chair of the Meta Oversight Board and former Prime Minister of Denmark, emphasized the growing issue of gender-based harassment online. "Deepfake pornography is increasingly used to target, silence, and intimidate women – both on and offline," she stated. The board aims to ensure that Meta's policies are enforced fairly and consistently worldwide.
The first case under review involved an AI-generated nude image resembling a public figure from India, shared on Instagram by an account known for posting AI-generated images of Indian women. Despite being reported as pornographic, the image was not reviewed within the required 48-hour window and remained on the platform until the Oversight Board intervened, prompting Meta to acknowledge the error and remove the content for violating bullying and harassment rules.
The second case concerns an AI-generated image of a nude woman being groped, posted to a Facebook group dedicated to AI creations. This incident further highlights the challenges social media platforms face in moderating such content and the potential harm it can cause to individuals' reputations and we'll-being.
As part of its review, the Oversight Board is also inviting public comments on deepfake pornography, seeking insights into how such content can harm women and affect society at large.
