Congressman August Pfluger and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell have spearheaded a bipartisan initiative involving 24 other lawmakers, addressing the issue of deepfake pornography with seven major tech companies. Letters were sent to Google, Apple, X, ByteDance, Snapchat, Microsoft, and Meta. The correspondence seeks information on the companies' policies for detecting and managing deepfake pornography on their platforms.
The lawmakers expressed concern over the growing prevalence of deepfake pornography and its impact on women's safety. They noted that "gender-based violence and harassment is a persistent issue both in the United States and across the globe," which has been exacerbated by technological advancements. The letter highlighted that as deepfake technology becomes more sophisticated, it allows for realistic non-consensual pornographic content to be created and shared.
They stated that "the impact of being targeted by deepfake pornography is multifaceted," causing mental, emotional, and financial harm to victims. Despite some platforms banning non-consensual deepfakes, they struggle to manage their rapid spread.
The group emphasized their commitment to tackling technology-based abuse through bipartisan efforts such as the TAKE IT DOWN Act. They urged online platforms to collaborate with lawmakers in protecting users from potential abuse.
The letters included several questions for the tech companies:
1. What plans are in place to address deepfake pornography proactively?
2. What methods exist on your platform to detect such content?
3. Who is involved in developing these plans?
4. How are reports handled and overseen?
5. How do you address policy loopholes allowing spread despite prohibitions?
6. What remedies are available for users whose images are used without consent?
7. Are there efforts to increase user awareness of these issues?
Signatories include Representatives Jake Auchincloss, Nikki Budzinski, Tony Cárdenas, Buddy Carter, Sean Casten, Don Davis, Madeleine Dean, Sylvia Garcia, Josh Gottheimer, Raúl Grijalva, Diana Harshbarger, Hank Johnson, Thomas Kean Jr., Nick Langworthy, Seth Magaziner, Seth Moulton, Eleanor Holmes Norton (Del.-DC), Stacey Plaskett (Del.-Virgin Islands), Chris Smith (NJ-04), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Norma Torres (CA-35), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Randy Weber (TX-14), and Jennifer Wexton.