In a disturbing revelation, Graphika, a leading social media analytics company, has unveiled a sharp surge in the use of "AI undressing," a practice employing generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools to digitally remove clothing from user-provided images. The alarming report indicates a staggering 2,408% increase in volume year-on-year, with over 32,100 cases recorded in 2023, compared to 1,280 in 2022.
The proliferation of 34 websites and 52 Telegram channels offering synthetic non-consensual intimate images (NCII) services underscores the growing ease and cost-effectiveness of generating realistic explicit content at scale through AI tools. Graphika's findings raise concerns about the potential consequences of this trend, including issues such as targeted harassment, sextortion, and the production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
The implications extend beyond static images, as AI has been harnessed to create video deepfakes featuring the likenesses of celebrities like YouTube personality Mr. Beast and Hollywood actor Tom Hanks. This multifaceted use of AI technology in creating deceptive content poses serious threats, as underscored by a separate report from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). The IWF discovered over 20,254 images of child abuse on a single dark web forum in a month, warning that AI-generated child pornography could overwhelm the internet.
Advancements in generative AI imaging have compounded the challenge of distinguishing between deepfake pornography and authentic images, as highlighted by the IWF. The United Nations, in a June 12 report, declared AI-generated media a "serious and urgent" threat to information integrity, particularly on social media. This concern has prompted action, with negotiators from the European Parliament and Council agreeing on rules governing the use of AI in the European Union on December 8.
As the dark side of AI undressing unfolds, the urgent need to address the ethical and legal implications becomes evident. The potential for AI to contribute to malicious activities such as harassment, sextortion, and the production of explicit content involving minors calls for a comprehensive response from governments, tech companies, and the wider public. The evolving landscape of AI technology demands a proactive approach to safeguarding online spaces and protecting individuals from the misuse of synthetic intimate images.
