Over 300 experts from various fields such as technology, artificial intelligence (AI), digital ethics, and child safety have united to issue an open letter urging governments worldwide to take immediate action against deepfakes. Published on February 21 under the title "Disrupting Deepfake Supply Chains," the letter calls upon governments, policymakers, and political leaders to impose obligations within supply chains to combat the proliferation of deepfakes.
Outlined in the letter are three primary courses of action. Firstly, it advocates for the full criminalization of deepfake child pornography, extending even to fictional children. Additionally, it calls for criminal penalties for individuals knowingly involved in creating or disseminating harmful deepfakes. The letter also urges software developers and distributors to ensure that their products do not facilitate the creation of harmful deepfakes, with repercussions for failing to meet these standards.
Signatories to the letter include notable figures such as American politician and cryptocurrency advocate Andrew Yang, cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker, and two former presidents of Estonia. Representatives from various countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and China, are also among the signatories.
Andrew Critch, an artificial intelligence researcher at UC Berkeley and lead author of the letter, emphasized the significant threat posed by deepfakes to society. He expressed the need for immediate legislative action to address this threat and protect individuals, communities, and democratic processes.
Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, highlighted the growing necessity for "biometric rights," particularly in light of the disproportionate impact of algorithmic abuse on marginalized groups. She emphasized the collective responsibility to speak out against harmful applications of artificial intelligence, citing statistics that reveal women and girls as the primary victims of non-consensual deepfakes. Buolamwini emphasized the potentially severe consequences of AI misuse and the need for proactive measures to counteract it.
