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So a few weeks ago, a guy on Reddit came up with a tool for using AI to map someone's face into a video. Of course, it was immediately used to put celebrities into porn - something that up until this point has been no real issue.

However, it gained some news coverage because it looked kind of realistic, and now Reddit, Pornhub and Twitter have all banned fake porn.

https://www.reddit.com/r/celebfakes

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/pornhub-twitter-deepfakes-ban-ai-celebrity-faces-porn-actress-bodies-emma-watson-jennifer-lawrence-a8199131.html

Now I assume there has been a threat of legal action, because this content has never been banned before on any of those sites. So my question is, what legal precedent is there for someone to request a takedown?

So a few weeks ago, a guy on Reddit came up with a tool for using AI to map someone's face into a video. Of course, it was immediately used to put celebrities into porn - something that up until this point has been no real issue. However, it gained some news coverage because it looked kind of realistic, and now Reddit, Pornhub and Twitter have all banned fake porn. https://www.reddit.com/r/celebfakes http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/pornhub-twitter-deepfakes-ban-ai-celebrity-faces-porn-actress-bodies-emma-watson-jennifer-lawrence-a8199131.html Now I assume there has been a threat of legal action, because this content has never been banned before on any of those sites. So my question is, what legal precedent is there for someone to request a takedown?

11 comments

[–] xyzzy 3 points (+3|-0)

In some countries (for example France) it is against the law to use an image of a person against their will. It's called something like the right on your own image.

[–] PMYA [OP] 0 points (+0|-0)

I suppose it could be argued that applies. But is that a law in the US? That's where all of the sites are hosted.

[–] xyzzy 1 points (+1|-0)

AFAIK it is not, but most sites don't want to risk being blocked. Or police every image on in which country it is allowed in. So they allow only pictures which are legal in what's not a censuring dictatorship country.

This one is complicated, and I'm still considering.
One one end an abusive example could be hybrid fake porn that is mistaken for real. That seems like a clear violation of the rights of the person in the image.
But on the other end could be an x-rated fan-art sketch of a movie character. That seems acceptable to me.

The problem, as it is often, is where and how to draw a line.

[–] PMYA [OP] 2 points (+2|-0)

It isn't quite at the point of looking real yet, but it is 80%. Another question to ponder is what happens when it isn't possible to tell if the porn is real or not?

To me this is straying into the area of the banning of cartoon images on the grounds that it is depicting children, the difference being that real people are involved here.

Regardless, I give it 24 hours before someone comes up with the idea of putting pornstars into SFW films.

To me this is straying into the area of the banning of cartoon images on the grounds that it is depicting children

I'm not sure that compares well. The reason cartoon images are banned, I assume, is because it is thought to promote pedophilia.
In this case, promoting lust for adults, is not a problem.

I don't think it would be handled as a 'porn' thing. I think it would probably be dealt with under copyright, and/or identity protections. Libel etc.
There's nothing criminal about the nudity, or images. It's just a questionable use of a likeness.

[–] PMYA [OP] 3 points (+3|-0)

Another thing has just occurred to me whilst thinking about this. It isn't an issue yet, but what happens in a few years when this is perfected and available to everyone? Video footage of crimes is going to become unreliable if you can't figure out if its real or not.

Also I did some googling for research. 7 fucking minutes long, (NSFW) it isn't perfect but I have never seen anything even approaching this length before.

[–] [Deleted] 1 points (+1|-0)

WTF IS WRONG WITH YOUR WAIFU WHY YOU POST THIS SHIT! > common sense

[–] Justintoxicated 1 points (+1|-0)

Legally you're not allowed to use someone's name or likeness without their consent for profit. However there are caveats to this for example artistic renderings and fair use can come into play. Of course there are ways to easily get around this, 1. put in your disclaimer that they are look-a-like renderings 2. claim that they are artistic renderings and any similarity to someone living or dead is coincidental. I'm sure there are other defenses to be used.