This text references assault, image-based abuse, and suicide.
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion has spoken out after a sexually specific, 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 while you see me successful.” Megan posted on X, referring to the video. “Yall going too far, Pretend ass s***. Simply know immediately was your final day taking part in with me and I imply it.”
Per NBC Information, there have been a minimum of 15 posts on X containing the video of Megan – six of which has over 30,000 views every.
A spokesperson for X mentioned 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 time Tour’ Tampa date later the identical day. The emotional track particulars her struggles along with her psychological well being and suicidal ideation after the lack of her dad and mom 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 turned topic to widespread misogynistic hate and loss of life 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 car, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.
However that hasn’t stopped Megan from persevering with to launch music and keep it up 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, educating one to faucet into their interior energy and depend on oneself to beat their threats.”
Megan will not be the primary well-known girl who has been victimised by this sickening content material.
In January, Taylor Swift was focused too – along with her face being artificially mapped onto photos that depicted her being assaulted in non-consensual sexual acts. One photograph depicting Swift was seen 47 million instances earlier than it was eliminated.
The capabilities of AI know-how have gotten a big concern for ladies the world over. Certainly, GLAMOUR’s 2023 Consent Survey discovered that 91% of our readers suppose deepfake know-how poses a risk to the protection of ladies.
GLAMOUR has beforehand campaigned for improved laws round deepfake know-how, with the Ministry of Justice pledging to criminalise the creation and distribution of AI-generated and sexually specific deepfake movies. Nonetheless, the timing of the basic election has created uncertainty over whether or not this laws shall be honoured by the subsequent authorities.
There are additionally restricted legal guidelines about image-based abuse within the US. For instance, USA At the moment discovered that solely 10 states are recognized to have legal guidelines referring to deepfake movies and pictures. As a result of US privateness legal guidelines fluctuate relying on the state, there are important gaps within the authorized system surrounding the prosecution of those that create and distribute this content material.
Social media firms should urgently deal with the creation and sharing of such dangerous content material and ought to be working along side governments the world over to cease the unfold of this relentless misogyny. If it will possibly occur to the likes of Megan Thee Stallion and Taylor Swift; it will possibly occur to anybody.
The Revenge Porn Helpline supplies recommendation, steerage and help to victims of intimate image-based abuse over the age of 18 who stay within the UK. You’ll be able to name them on 0345 6000 459.
