The issue is not limited to eBay, with platforms like Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and Etsy also struggling with an influx of AI-generated explicit images. In response, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has introduced the DEFIANCE Act, aimed at providing victims of non-consensual deepfake pornography with legal remedies. Meanwhile, eBay is updating its policies regarding deepfakes and uses a combination of AI technology and trained investigators to identify and remove violating listings.
Key takeaways:
- Top-rated sellers on eBay are selling thousands of AI-generated and photoshopped pornographic images of public figures, including celebrities like Taylor Swift and Margot Robbie.
- eBay has taken down hundreds of these images and suspended accounts of sellers after being notified by Forbes, but many sexually suggestive images remain on the platform.
- AI-generated pornographic imagery is also proliferating on other platforms like Reddit, X (formerly Twitter) and Etsy, and federal legislation is being introduced to hold perpetrators accountable.
- eBay is in the process of updating its policies regarding deepfakes and uses a mix of AI technology and professionally trained investigators to identify and remove listings that violate its prohibited items policy.