On April 30, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) submitted a response to the Oversight Board's request for public comments on "Explicit AI Images of Female Public Figures." In their submission, CDT highlighted the concerning issues surrounding deepfakes and their impact on women in the public eye.
CDT emphasized the harmful nature of deepfakes, stating that they are a form of online gender-based violence and gender disinformation. According to CDT, deepfakes targeted at women in politics are designed to challenge, control, and attack their presence in public spaces of authority. The organization also pointed out that deepfakes exploit discrimination based on various identities, including gender, disability, LGBTQIA+ status, age, religion, and immigration status.
To combat the issue of deepfakes, especially those aimed at women public figures, CDT recommended a coordinated approach that acknowledges company responsibilities under relevant legislation, such as the EU's Directive to combat violence against women. Additionally, CDT provided specific suggestions for Meta to address the problem on its platforms, including the clear articulation of policies prohibiting gender and race-based harassment, providing transparency reports on election mis/disinformation, granting access to data for researchers, and ensuring content moderation systems are sensitive to the threats faced by women public figures.
CDT's response to the Oversight Board's call for public comments underscores the importance of addressing the challenges posed by deepfakes and online gender-based violence, particularly when targeted at female public figures.
