Should apps that create sexualized deepfakes be banned?

Apps that create sexualized deepfakes are like toys that can turn a photo into a video where someone says or does things they didn’t really say or do, and sometimes in a way that feels unfair or embarrassing.

What is a sexualized deepfake?

A deepfake is when a computer uses special tricks to make it look like someone else’s face is saying or doing something. A sexualized deepfake adds another layer, where the fake video might show someone doing things in a way that feels like they're being teased or used for a joke, sometimes even in a way that's not fair.

Why would we want to ban them?

Imagine you have a drawing of your friend’s face. A deepfake app is like a crayon box and a smart friend who helps you change the picture into a video, making it look like they're saying something silly or doing something embarrassing, even if they didn’t really say or do that.

Sometimes, this can feel like someone took a toy from your friend and made them play with it in front of everyone. That’s why some people want to ban these apps, so no one gets teased unfairly using fake videos.

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Examples

  1. A teen uses an app to make a fake video of her friend saying something embarrassing, and it goes viral.
  2. An app lets people create realistic fake videos by using someone else's face without their permission.
  3. People are worried that these apps could be used for harassment or blackmail.

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