In a recent development, over 500 prominent figures in the artificial intelligence community have come together to sign an open letter urging for stricter regulations surrounding AI-generated deepfakes. These individuals are calling for government intervention to impose obligations across the supply chain to combat the spread of deepfakes, which they consider to be a growing threat to society.
One of the key demands in the letter is the full criminalization of deepfake child sexual abuse materials, commonly known as child pornography, irrespective of whether the content depicts real or fictional characters. The signatories are pushing for criminal penalties for individuals involved in creating or disseminating harmful deepfakes. Additionally, they are calling on developers to proactively prevent the creation of harmful deepfakes using their products, with potential penalties for inadequate preventive measures.
Among the notable signatories of the letter are individuals from organizations such as OpenAI and Google Deepmind, as well as academics from various disciplines worldwide. The signatories are categorized by Notability in the letter, which reflects the diverse representation of experts from different sectors within the AI community.
This call for action is not the first of its kind, as similar discussions have been ongoing in the EU for some time now, culminating in recent formal proposals. The letter’s release may have been prompted by the EU’s proactive approach to addressing AI-related issues or concerns surrounding the lack of safeguards against deepfake abuse.
The urgency of this matter is further underscored by the potential implications of AI-generated scams, which could influence elections or defraud unsuspecting individuals. While the reception and impact of this letter remain uncertain, it serves as a significant collective voice advocating for regulatory measures to address the proliferation of deepfakes in the digital landscape.
