More than 300 experts from various fields, including technology, artificial intelligence (AI), digital ethics, and child safety, have joined forces to address the issue of deepfakes. In an open letter titled “Disrupting the Deepfake Supply Chain,” released on February 21, these experts are calling on governments and policymakers to take immediate action to combat the spread of deepfakes.
The letter outlines three key actions that need to be taken. Firstly, it emphasizes the need to criminalize deepfake child pornography, even if it involves fictional children. Secondly, it calls for criminal penalties for individuals who knowingly create or facilitate the spread of harmful deepfakes. Additionally, it urges software developers and distributors to ensure that their media products do not contribute to the creation of harmful deepfakes and proposes penalties if they fail to meet the required standards.
Among the signatories of the letter are prominent figures such as Andrew Yang, a United States politician and crypto supporter, and cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker. Two former presidents of Estonia, as well as intellectuals from countries including the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Japan, and China, have also added their names to the letter.
Andrew Critch, an AI researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, and the lead author of the letter, stated that it was created to rally global public support for immediate legislative action against deepfakes.
Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League and author of “Unmasking AI,” stressed the importance of “biometric rights” and the need for severe consequences for egregious abuses of AI.
The creation and dissemination of the letter involved various organizations, including the Machine Intelligence and Normative Theory Lab and the Center for AI Safety.
While current legislation in the US does not adequately address the production and dissemination of deepfakes, recent events have prompted regulators to take swifter action. In response to the viral deepfakes involving Taylor Swift, lawmakers in the US have begun pushing for legislation to criminalize the production of deepfake images. Furthermore, following the circulation of a deepfake using President Joe Biden’s likeness, the US banned the use of AI-generated voices in scam robocalls. On February 16, the US Federal Trade Commission proposed updates to regulations to prohibit AI impersonation of businesses or government agencies for consumer protection purposes.
In summary, this open letter signed by over 300 experts highlights the urgent need for governments to address the issue of deepfakes. It calls for the criminalization of deepfake child pornography, penalties for those involved in the creation and spread of harmful deepfakes, and accountability for software developers and distributors. The letter has garnered support from influential figures and organizations worldwide, and recent events have further emphasized the need for legislative action against deepfakes.