Lawmakers Urge Tech Giants to Step Up Efforts Against Non-Consensual Explicit Images
A group of U.S. senators has criticized major tech companies, including Google, X (formerly Twitter), and Discord, for lagging behind in addressing the growing threat of non-consensual explicit images online. In a letter sent on Friday, the lawmakers urged these companies to do more to combat the spread of such content.
The letter, addressed to the CEOs of 11 tech firms, including Google’s parent company Alphabet, Amazon, Zoom, and Microsoft, highlighted the companies’ lack of participation in key initiatives aimed at removing non-consensual explicit images and videos. These initiatives, such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s “Take it Down” program and the Revenge Porn Helpline’s “StopNCII” initiative, make it easier for victims to request the removal of harmful content from online platforms.
While the programs are voluntary, several major internet companies, including Meta, Snap, TikTok, and PornHub, are already participants. The lawmakers emphasized that by joining these initiatives, tech firms could take significant steps to mitigate the severe impact that non-consensual explicit imagery has on victims’ lives, careers, and families.
The issue of non-consensual explicit images, often referred to as revenge porn, has gained urgency as advancements in artificial intelligence have made it easier to create and distribute such content. This year, women worldwide, including high-profile figures like Taylor Swift, have been targeted by AI-generated pornographic images. Despite the growing threat, there are currently no federal laws in the U.S. against the creation or sharing of non-consensual deepfake images, leaving victims with limited legal recourse.
The letter, spearheaded by Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Sen. Rick Scott, and co-signed by ten other senators, comes amid bipartisan efforts to address the issue. A recent hearing on Capitol Hill featured testimonies from teens and parents affected by AI-generated porn, leading to the introduction of a bill by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, with support from Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar and others. The proposed legislation would criminalize the publication of such images and require social media platforms to remove them upon notice from victims.
The senators urged the tech companies to join the existing programs to streamline the removal process, allowing victims to submit a single request that would be acted upon by all participating platforms, rather than forcing them to navigate the process with each company individually. The lawmakers stressed the importance of collective action in protecting individuals from the damaging effects of non-consensual explicit content.
