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On Sunday , former President Donald Trump posted a collection ofmemesonTruth Social — the platform owned by his media company — that make it seem like Taylor Swift and her lover are come out in support of his candidacy . But as young legislating takes essence , these images could have deeper implications about the consumption of AI - generated images in political run , especially when those paradigm belie a celebrity ’s likeness .
In one of the effigy Trump post , host of young woman wear jibe “ Swifties for Trump ” thyroxine - shirt . While there is indeed political diversity among the bombastic population of fleet fans , these images come along to be AI - generated — in fact , these particular images come froma satiric poston X.
Another meme that Trump posted is a screenshot from decade that depicts Taylor Swift as Uncle Sam , declaring , “ Taylor wants you to vote for Donald Trump . ”
Though the pop music icon has not yet comment on the 2024 U.S. presidential election , she derive out in support of theBiden - Harriscampaign in 2020 andpublicly disparagedTrump at the prison term . Some fans speculated that Swift had subtly endorsed Harris in an Instagram mail this calendar month , thoughthis was not the case .
As one of the most dominant design in pop culture , Swift has been open to her fair part ofdeepfakes . When non - consensual , explicit AI images depictingSwiftwentviralon X this year , some lawmakers respond by introducing new bills aiming to protectagainst deepfakes . Even White House Press Secretary Karine Jean - Pierre call on Congress to do something .
Eight month afterward , the landscape of legal protections against misleading semisynthetic media already look unlike . In Tennessee , where Swift ’s corporate representation is ground , Governor Bill Lee in March sign the trailblazingELVIS Actinto law , which carves out denotative protection for creative person against unauthorised AI imitation of their work .
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“ This statute law was sink with bipartisan support , because everyone appears to recognize the problems that AI and abuse of AI tools can present to the public , ” down said .
But since the ELVIS Act is so new , there is n’t precedent for how it could be used to protect artists . Much of the statute law ’s language focus specifically onAI - generated audiothat can mime an artist ’s voice , like theviral Drake songthat turn out to be fake .
“ I do think that this is going to be a foresighted - condition topic that the ELVIS Act is very prescient in remove charge of , but we ask to have more robust national legislation about it , ” pile said . The only reason why the ELVIS Act may even potentially be at maneuver is because of Swift ’s connections to the state , where she has business and real estate belongings .
Avi D. Kelin , a cooperator at PEM Law focusing on political natural law , is not affirmative that the ELVIS Act could apply , since the police appear more interested with audio recording - base imposture than imagery . Instead , he question if this could become a federal election integrity fear in the time to come .
“ The great query is whether the Federal Election Commission , which has jurisdiction over political communications , will get involve , ” Kelin told TechCrunch . But he said that the FEC does n’t seem likely to roll out new guidelines on AI - get political communications this election bike .
These disingenuous endorsements matter so much because Swift ’s support is perhaps the most coveted celebrity backing a politician can get . Her cultural influence is so vast that her keep of a candidate could lean the scales in a tight wash — according toMorning Consult , more than one-half of adult in the U.S. consider themselves fans of Taylor Swift , while 16 % identify as avid fans . Those numbers pool are staggering dedicate the circumstance that only abouttwo - thirdsof eligible Americans draw their vote in the 2020 election .
“ The [ ELVIS Act ] is blade new , and the exact parameters will need to be break by the courts , ” said Kelin . “ This would certainly be an interesting trial run case ! ”
