Elon Musk’s platform, X (the artist formerly known as Twitter), found itself in hot water, thanks to an unexpected source: Taylor Swift. Or, to be more precise, some not-safe-for-work images generated by AI that pretended to be her. These fake nudes spread like wildfire, pushing X to hit the panic button and temporarily block searches for the pop star’s name. Here’s why it’s a big deal. This opens a can of worms, but these worms know their way around a computer. It’s one thing to champion a platform dedicated to “free speech.” However, when that speech includes creating and distributing explicit images of someone without their consent, we find ourselves navigating some seriously murky waters. The internet has always resembled the wild west. Now, with AI in the mix, it’s as if every outlaw has a laser gun. The technology has become so advanced that distinguishing fact from fiction poses a real challenge. This issue extends beyond Taylor Swift’s digital impersonation. It serves as a significant warning about privacy, consent, and the ethics surrounding AI. The power of Swifties and the White House glance Following significant backlash from Swift’s fans (never underestimate the power of Swifties) and a critical glance from the White House, X decided to take action. The platform removed the most viral posts and temporarily halted searches for Swift. Image: KnowTechie This marks one of the first significant moderation actions since Musk’s takeover. The company soon issued a statement proclaiming its zero tolerance against deep fakes. .stk-0eb71ae{box-shadow:0…AI, Taylor Swift, and the ethical dilemma facing Elon Musk’s X