The posting of sexual images online without a person’s consent has long been a problem.
BEGINS WITH REVENGE FOR ONE.
BUT THE ABILITY OF DEEPFAKE AND AI TECHNOLOGIES TO MANIPULATE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS HAS MADE MATTER EVEN WORSE.
EVEN TAYLOR SWIFT WAS A VICTIM OF AI-GENERATED SEXUAL IMAGES.
NOW GOOGLE HAS ANNOUNCED NEW MEASURES TO COMBAT SEXUALLY OFFICIAL DEEPFAKES IN ITS SEARCH RESULTS. WE PRAY THAT THERE IS NO ONE-SIZE SOLUTION TO THIS COMPLEX PROBLEM.
A WIRED SENIOR WRITER COVERED IT ALL AND JOINS US NOW.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
How quickly has the number of non-consensual sexual images on the Internet increased and what are the reasons for this?
>> IT’S A HUGE PROBLEM.
We have observed that the number of these reports has doubled in recent years.
IN PLACES LIKE THE UK. STEPHANIE: THE DRIVERS ARE ALSO PARTLY DRIVEN BY THE POOR AND INDUSTRY.
IT’S NOW PART OF THE PORN ECONOMY.
PEOPLE PAY TO DOWNLOAD IMAGES AND VIDEOS LIKE THIS.
>> NON-CONSENTIAL NATURE, YES.
I would distinguish between pornography and image-based sexual abuse, which is not considered pornography.
PORNHOOD IS GENERALLY VIEWED AS MORE CONSENTIAL.
STEPHANIE: 96 PERCENT OF DEEPFAKES ARE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT AND DEPICT WOMEN WHO DO NOT CONSENT TO THE CREATION OF THE CONTENT.
WHO IS MOST VULNERABLE TO BECOMING A VICTIM IN THIS WAY?
>> IT’S EVERYONE.
Recent surveys have shown that there is a huge trend towards sextortion, especially among men and young men.
ANYONE WHO HAS THEIR PHOTO ON THE INTERNET.
WHICH PRETTY MUCH TRUE TO ALL OF US AT THIS POINT.
STEPHANIE: GOOGLE HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL REDUCE THE SALIGNMENT AND RELEVANCE OF DEEPFAKE IMAGES IN ITS SEARCHES.
THAT CONCERNS DEEPFAKES, BUT WHAT ABOUT ACTUAL IMAGES USED WITHOUT CONSENT?
DOES GOOGLE GO FAR ENOUGH TO TREAT THESE VICTIMS?
>> GOOGLE IS ALREADY TAKING THE MEASURES IT USED FOR DEEPFAKES.
The report suggests that there are numerous ideas that Google could implement to reduce the burden on victims of image-based sexual abuse.
THESE ARE IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED BY SURVIVORS, THEIR ADVOCATES, AND EVEN GOOGLE EMPLOYEES.
GOOGLE HAS REFUSED TO ADOPT THESE IDEAS.
Partly because they are concerned about excessive censorship and fear coming across as too much of a regulator of the Internet.
THERE ARE SOME BASIC IDEAS, AND IT’S INCOMPREHENSIVE WHY THEY DIDN’T PURSUE THEM.
STEPHANIE: YOU USE THE TERM “IMAGE-BASED SEXUAL ABUSE.”
CAN YOU DESCRIBE SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT HAPPEN TO VICTIMS WHO ARE IN THIS SITUATION?
>> THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO CONSENTLY SEND A PICTURE TAKEN OF THEMSELVES, A SELFIE, AND SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND.
AND THIS BOYFRIEND WANTS REVENGE, SOMETHING IS WRONG IN THIS RELATIONSHIP, HE IS POSING IT ONLINE.
These could be secret recordings of people.
There are many ways in which someone can suffer from this problem.
IN THE BIG ACTUAL SITUATION – THE BIG PROBLEM IS YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU WERE TRAUMATIZED, GO ON THE INTERNET, FIND THESE IMAGES AND TRY TO HAVE THEM REMOVED.
It is a huge burden for the actual victims or survivors to remove all this material from the Internet.
SOMETIMES IT TAKES YEARS AND YEARS.
STEPHANIE: THIS IS SOMETHING PARENTS HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHEN THEY TALK TO CHILDREN.
WHEN YOUR PHOTO APPEARS ONLINE, IT CAN STAY THERE FOREVER.
HOW DIFFICULT IS IT FOR VICTIMS TO REMOVE THESE THINGS AND HOW WILLING ARE THE TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES TO MEET THE VICTIMS HALFWAY AND HELP THEM?
>> ONE OF THE REMARKABLE THINGS IS THAT AN ENTIRE COTTAGE INDUSTRY HAS sprung up OF COMPANIES LIKE THE PLACE THAT SOMETIMES CHARGE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER PROJECT OR INITIATIVE TO HELP VICTIMS GET THEIR IMAGES REMOVED.
THIS PROBLEM IS SO BAD THAT AN ECONOMY HAS BEEN CREATED AROUND IT.
THESE COMPANIES HELP VICTIMS FIND THE IMAGES. THEY EVEN USE AI TO AUTOMATICALLY SEARCH FOR SWAPPED IMAGES AND INSTANTLY SEND MESSAGES TO RESOLVE THE IMAGES.
BUT IT’S PAINFUL.
SOMETIMES COMPANIES REQUIRE IDENTITY VERIFICATION.
YOU MUST SEND THEM YOUR ID.
OR YOU MAY QUESTION WHETHER THE DECISION WAS ACTUALLY UNCONSENTIAL.
MAYBE YOU WERE A FANS-ONLY CREATOR AND THEN PICTURES OF YOU WERE READ ONLINE.
GOOGLE MAY BE WONDERING IF THEY STILL COMMERCIALIZE THESE IMAGES.
THESE SURVIVORS HAVE TO GET THROUGH CHAOS.
STEPHANIE: WHO ELSE CAN ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES?
IS IT ALSO A PROBLEM OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND REGULATORY POLICY?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
One of the questions I heard over and over again from Google employees who recorded my story was: Why is our law enforcement doing more to crack down on criminals?
WHY HAVEN’T WE CRIMINALIZED THIS BEHAVIOR MORE WIDELY?
IN MOST STATES, ASPECTS OF THIS MATTER ARE CRIMINALIZED.
BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CERTAINLY ARE NOT MAKING ENOUGH EFFORT TO PROSECUT THE LOST CRIMINALS.
This is partly because they are sometimes abroad or because, even if they are brought to justice, they can be sent to prison or made to pay the damages to which they are entitled.
STEPHANIE: THIS IS A SENIOR ADVISOR AT WIRED COMING TO US.
>> GLAD TO BE HERE.
