Google has announced a change in its advertising policies, prohibiting the promotion of services that help users create deepfake porn and other forms of generated nudes. The new policy will go into effect on May 30th and explicitly prohibits the advertisement of services that offer to create synthetic explicit content. Google will be removing any ads that violate this policy using a combination of human reviews and automated systems. In 2023, Google removed over 1.8 billion ads for violating its policies on sexual content, according to the company’s annual Ads Safety Report.
The change in Google’s policy follows reports of apps that facilitate the creation of deepfake pornography circumventing the existing ban on sexually explicit content by advertising themselves as non-sexual. Nonconsensual deepfake pornography has become a significant issue in recent years, with instances of AI-generated nude photos being created without consent. The FBI issued a warning about an increase in extortion schemes involving AI-generated nudes. Some services allow users to create sexual content using AI models, despite efforts to prevent this type of content creation.
Legislative action may be on the horizon to address the issue of deepfake porn. The DEFIANCE Act, introduced by the House and Senate, aims to establish a process for victims of “digital forgery” to sue those responsible for making or distributing nonconsensual deepfakes of them. This legislative response reflects growing concerns about the impact and prevalence of deepfake porn, which has led to criminal charges and prison sentences for those involved in creating or possessing this type of content.
The new policy from Google represents a significant step in addressing the proliferation of deepfake porn and other generated explicit content. By prohibiting the advertisement of services that enable the creation of synthetic explicit content, Google aims to prevent the promotion of harmful and nonconsensual content. The company’s efforts to remove ads that violate these policies demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a safe and responsible advertising environment for users.
As technology continues to evolve, the challenges posed by deepfake porn and other forms of generated explicit content are likely to persist. Efforts to combat this issue through legislation, such as the DEFIANCE Act, highlight the need for proactive measures to protect individuals from the negative consequences of digital forgery. By taking a stand against the promotion of services that facilitate deepfake porn, Google is sending a clear message about the importance of ethics and responsibility in online advertising.
In conclusion, Google’s new policy banning the advertisement of services that enable the creation of deepfake porn and synthetic explicit content marks an important step in combating this troubling trend. As the prevalence of deepfake porn continues to rise, the need for legislative action and technological safeguards becomes increasingly apparent. By addressing these issues through policy changes and enforcement mechanisms, companies like Google can help mitigate the harmful impacts of digital forgery and protect individuals from exploitation and abuse.