Nancy Mace says rise of deepfakes is only ‘getting worse’ following Taylor Swift AI-generated explicit images scandal as new technologies emerge while taking another swipe at ABC’s Stephanopoulos for ‘rape shaming’

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said scandals with deepfakes are worsening

Threats posed by artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes, particularly sexually explicit ones involving celebrities and children, are getting worse in the U.S., a top Republican said Tuesday.

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said during a hearing examining the dangers posed by deepfakes that the threats posed by the technology are growing.

‘AI, deepfakes, non-consensual photos, photography are only getting worse in this country and around the world because of the advent of technology,’ she said.

The technology was thrust into the spotlight in January after sexually explicit deepfakes of superstar singer Taylor Swift began spreading online.

Her deepfakes were so widespread and graphic that X temporarily blocked the singer from being searched on the social media platform.

+4
View gallery

Singer Taylor Swift was the victim of a sexually explicit AI-generated deepfake in January

+4
View gallery

Rep. Robert Garcia, R-Calif., brought up Taylor Swift’s deepfake incident in Tuesday’s hearing

+4
View gallery

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said at a Tuesday hearing the deepfake threat in the U.S. is growing

‘Just weeks ago, AI generated pornographic deepfake images of Taylor Swift were viewed more than 45 million times,’ Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., said at the hearing.

He noted how social media platforms ‘struggled to prevent people from sharing’ the deepfake imagery.

Swift’s fans, however, were able to provide defense for the pop star by flooding social media with posts to dilute the many deepfake images appearing online.

‘Deepfake pornography accounts for 98 percent of deepfake videos online,’ Garcia said.

‘We know Taylor Swift fans and Swifties cannot protect everyone and certainly not people that don’t have that platform.’

‘The Taylor Swift deepfake debacle was preventable,’ he added.

Several lawmakers, including Mace, have recently introduced bills that would provide deepfake victims further protections from having their likeness exploited.

‘The Protect Victims of Digital Exploitation and Manipulation Act of 2024 is a crucial step toward safeguarding individuals from the harmful effects of deepfakes,’ Mace said in a statement last week.

‘It addresses a gap in our legal framework and provides necessary protections for those targeted by bad actors and online predators. By introducing this legislation, we are sending a clear message that digital exploitation and manipulation will not be tolerated.’

Swift was ‘furious’ about the AI-generated imagery and reportedly was considering legal action, according to sources close to her

Mace said she is planning on releasing another bill related to protecting women from voyeurism next week.

The South Carolina Republican also used the deepfake hearing as a platform to rip ABC News host George Stephanopoulos for ‘rape shaming.’

She accused Stephanopoulos of trying to ‘shame’ and ‘bully’ her as the ABC anchor tried to press her on why she endorsed former President Donald Trump after he was found liable for sexual abuse.

‘You’re trying to shame me for my political choice,’ said Mace on ABC on Sunday.

‘It was not a criminal court. This was a civil court and by the way, she joked about the judgment and what she was going to do with all that money. I find that offensive.’