Deep Fake AI Porn and How It’s Affecting Modern Relationships
While scrolling through Tiktok, I stumbled upon a video about the Twitch streamer known as QTCinderella. She broke down in front of the camera after finding out that her image had been used without her consent for deep fake pornographic content.
I know this is a far cry from the usual topics that I discuss, but it’s something that I need to talk about. I’m quite disturbed and perplexed by this atrocity.
Deep fake AI porn is a disturbing new trend that has been gaining popularity, believe it or not, these past few years. It involves using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to create pornographic content featuring people who have never actually participated in such activities. These videos are often very convincing.
It sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. But is it an issue that affects modern relationships?
It’s popular partly because it’s easy to make.
If you’re a tech-savvy person, you’ll realize how easy it is to make these deep fake content. Most of us know about the current advancement of AI and machine learning, so it’s not a surprise how anyone with a computer, internet connection, and some technical know-how can create this kind of content. You don’t even need a fancy computer set-up.
This kind of technology also allows people to create pornographic content featuring individuals who they may not have access to in real life, like celebrities or people they know but aren’t in relationships with.
For the people who make this kind of video, it must be like a disgusting form of fantasy fulfillment.
Its popularity allows it to reach not just individuals, but also couples.
Pornography has often created problems among couples in the past. The typical scenario is that one partner becomes addicted to it. It hurts their partners, who end up feeling neglected and unloved.
With deep fake videos being so realistic, some people can even become emotionally attached to them. It’s not a stretch to say it can become a form of emotional infidelity.
It can be abusive.
This technology can also be used to manipulate and exploit people. For example, someone could create a deep fake video of their partner and then use it to blackmail them, much like the “revenge” pornography that some individuals have resorted to in the past. I’m afraid that this can be an updated version of this kind of abuse.
Most importantly, many of the people featured in deep fake AI porn videos never gave their consent for their images to be used in this way. This means that their privacy and autonomy are being violated, which is a serious ethical concern. No one is safe from the dangers of deep fakes, not celebrities nor civilians.
Actress Scarlet Johansson, who has fallen victim to some deep fake videos across the internet, once told The Washington Post:
“The fact is that trying to protect yourself from the Internet and its depravity is basically a lost cause. . . . The Internet is a vast wormhole of darkness that eats itself.”
Is there a way for us to stop this mortifying technology?
Deep fake technology is already here, and the way I see it, there’s nothing we can do to stop it.
I guess all we can do is to raise awareness about the dangers of AI porn and do everything that we can to protect ourselves and the people we love.
This may sound like generic advice, but we need to be vigilant about potential threats — like being careful about what personal information we share online, avoiding clicking on suspicious links, and using privacy and security settings to protect our online accounts. If you encounter any instances of deep fake AI porn, report it to the relevant authorities and seek legal advice if necessary.
When it comes to relationships, we can start by having mindful and mature conversations with our partners about porn use. Deep fake AI porn is a relatively new phenomenon, and we still have a lot to learn about its impact on relationships.
However, a healthy relationship is, of course, built on trust, honesty, and respect, and by taking this kind of step to protect yourself and your relationship, you can help ensure its longevity and happiness.
For now, let’s just hope to create a safer, healthier online world for everyone.
