This text references assault, image-based abuse, and suicide.
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion has spoken out after a sexually express, AI-generated video utilizing her picture was shared on social media over the weekend.
“It’s actually sick how y’all exit of the best way to harm me if you see me successful.” Megan posted on X, referring to the video. “Yall going too far, Faux ass s***. Simply know at present was your final day taking part in with me and I imply it.”
Per NBC Information, there have been not less than 15 posts on X containing the video of Megan – six of which has over 30,000 views every.
A spokesperson for X stated the platform’s guidelines “prohibit the sharing of non-consensual intimate media and we’re proactively eradicating this content material.”
Megan fought again tears on stage as she carried out her track “Cobra” at her ‘Scorching Woman Summer season Tour’ Tampa date later the identical day. The emotional track particulars her struggles together with her psychological well being and suicidal ideation after the lack of her mother and father and grandmother and across the Tory Lanez trial.
Megan has endured constant harassment on the web since 2020, when she first accused rapper Tory Lanez of taking pictures her within the foot. The incident sparked a fierce debate on-line and Megan grew to become topic to widespread misogynistic hate and demise threats.
In a press release to the court docket through the ensuing trial, Megan acknowledged that she had not skilled a “single day of peace” since she was “viciously shot”.
Lanez has since been discovered responsible and sentenced to 10 years in jail for the taking pictures and for 3 felonies: assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a automobile, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.
However that hasn’t stopped Megan from persevering with to launch music and keep on her activism. In a message to her followers forward of Cobra’s launch in November, she acknowledged, “Cobras exemplify braveness and self-reliance. They stand tall and fierce within the face of challenges, instructing one to faucet into their inside power and depend on oneself to beat their threats.”
Megan isn’t the primary well-known lady who has been victimised by this sickening content material.
In January, Taylor Swift was focused too – together with her face being artificially mapped onto photos that depicted her being assaulted in non-consensual sexual acts. One picture depicting Swift was considered 47 million instances earlier than it was eliminated.
The capabilities of AI expertise have gotten a big concern for ladies internationally. Certainly, GLAMOUR’s 2023 Consent Survey discovered that 91% of our readers assume deepfake expertise poses a menace to the protection of girls.
GLAMOUR has beforehand campaigned for improved laws round deepfake expertise, with the Ministry of Justice pledging to criminalise the creation and distribution of AI-generated and sexually express deepfake movies. Nonetheless, the timing of the normal election has created uncertainty over whether or not this laws will probably be honoured by the subsequent authorities.
There are additionally restricted legal guidelines about image-based abuse within the US. For instance, USA In the present day discovered that solely 10 states are recognized to have legal guidelines regarding deepfake movies and pictures. As a result of US privateness legal guidelines range relying on the state, there are vital gaps within the authorized system surrounding the prosecution of those that create and distribute this content material.
Social media firms should urgently tackle the creation and sharing of such dangerous content material and needs to be working along with governments internationally to cease the unfold of this relentless misogyny. If it could actually occur to the likes of Megan Thee Stallion and Taylor Swift; it could actually occur to anybody.
The Revenge Porn Helpline gives recommendation, steerage and help to victims of intimate image-based abuse over the age of 18 who dwell within the UK. You’ll be able to name them on 0345 6000 459.