Tech & IT

Child Exploitation via AI Deepfakes Earns 10 to 30-Year Sentence in Louisiana

As of August 1, Louisiana will enforce a newly ratified law that criminalizes the creation and possession of deepfakes illustrating child exploitation. Louisiana’s SB175, signed by Governor John Bel Edwards, prescribes stringent consequences for offenders involved in producing, distributing, or retaining illegal deepfake content featuring minors. Penalties include a compulsory prison term ranging from five to 20 years, fines up to $10,000, or a combination of both.

Deepfakes – the AI-engineered videos that distort reality by fabricating individuals, places, and occurrences – present significant obstacles for law enforcement and cybersecurity. The progression in AI technology has heightened the complexity of detecting deepfakes, highlighting the necessity for legal countermeasures. Louisiana, grappling with child welfare issues and high poverty rates, follows the lead of states like California, Texas, and Virginia in taking legal steps to restrict or ban deepfakes.

SB175 also addresses the issue of nonconsensual explicit content, often referred to as “revenge porn.” According to the law, those who knowingly advertise, distribute, or sell explicit deepfakes without consent, particularly involving minors, can face a mandatory prison sentence of 10 to 30 years, a fine up to $50,000, or both. Louisiana legislators ensured that any penalty under this law would require “hard labor.”

Deepfakes, especially those involving harm to individuals, have gained global attention. In May, deepfakes illustrating child homicide victims went viral on social media platforms, including TikTok. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed concerns about the potential misuse of AI and deepfakes in inciting hatred and violence in conflict-ridden areas.

The advent of deepfakes raises questions about the reliability of visual content. Marko Jak, CEO of Secta Labs, warns society is entering an era where the authenticity of visual media cannot be assumed. Current deepfakes may be recognizable due to flaws, but as AI technology progresses, detecting convincingly realistic deepfakes could pose a significant challenge.

Criminal exploitation of deepfakes for fraudulent activities and blackmail is a growing concern for law enforcement agencies. Reports of victims, including minors, being targeted with explicit content using their photos and videos have been noted by the FBI. In a move recognizing the possible misuse of AI, Meta, responsible for the AI-generated voice platform Voicebox, refrained from releasing the technology publicly. The company emphasized the need to strike a balance between open access and responsibility in AI technology.

Louisiana’s introduction of the deepfake law signifies increasing awareness of the serious threats posed by manipulated media. The state seeks to safeguard minors from exploitation and discourage those intending to spread harmful content by criminalizing the production and possession of child exploitation deepfakes. However, managing deepfake-related crimes effectively necessitates ongoing AI advancements, as well as collaboration between tech companies, law enforcement, and policymakers.

As AI technology continues to evolve, society must remain proactive in updating legal measures and deploying advanced detection tools to counter malevolent players. A comprehensive strategy to combat deepfakes involves legal action, public awareness, and innovation in AI detection techniques. By taking such proactive measures, Louisiana, along with other jurisdictions, strives to protect vulnerable populations and preserve trust in the digital world.”

Tech & IT

Metaverse Sex: Revolutionizing Intimacy in a Decade

VR to Transform Adult Entertainment with Metaverse Sex in 10 Years

Highlights:

VR sex replaces porn apps in a decade
Multi-sensory VR includes touch, smell
Ethical concerns in virtual consent
Metaverse allows global virtual encounters
Shift could aid lonely individuals

According to Sam Hall, managing director of Mixed Reality Rooms, the world of adult entertainment is poised for a transformative shift in the next decade. Hall envisions a future where traditional porn apps and websites are replaced by immersive experiences in the metaverse, enabled by advancements in virtual reality (VR) technology.

This evolution, he predicts, will be driven by the increasing accessibility of VR headsets, paving the way for a new normal in adult entertainment. The introduction of multi-sensory VR, including technologies that simulate touch, smell, and taste, is expected to create experiences that closely mimic real-life interactions. Hall foresees a significant role for connected sex toys, utilizing haptic technology to enhance the virtual experience.

However, this technological leap is not without its challenges. Hall raises critical ethical concerns, particularly around consent in the virtual realm. The use of personal images and virtual avatars without consent poses a significant risk, echoing apprehensions noted in a 2017 report about VR porn’s impact on sexual expectations and potential for abuse.

Despite these concerns, the potential of the metaverse extends beyond just entertainment. Hall suggests that it could democratize sexual experiences, providing new opportunities for those who may find it challenging to find partners in the real world. This virtual world, limitless in its scope, allows individuals to express their desires in diverse settings, real or fictional, private or public.

The integration of VR technology with sexual wellness hardware is still in its nascent stages, but Hall notes that it’s only a matter of time before these technologies fully converge. He points out that people are already exploring romantic connections in virtual spaces, hinting at the future of relationships and intimacy.

As we stand on the brink of this new era, the questions of how quickly these changes will materialize and how they will reshape our understanding of human intimacy remain open. What is clear, however, is that the metaverse is set to redefine the landscape of adult entertainment, offering unprecedented experiences while challenging our conventional notions of consent and connection.

Latest News

Omegle Shuts Down After Child Safety and Legal Challenges

Omegle, a platform for video chatting with strangers, has shut down following numerous child abuse allegations and lawsuits. Over a decade, it linked children with predators, prompting legal scrutiny. Founder Leif K-Brooks, under pressure, cites the challenge of moderating content as a key reason for the shutdown.

Highlights:

Omegle shuts down following child safety issues.
Platform linked minors with predators for years.
High CSAM reports exceed other social platforms.
Founder Leif K-Brooks announces app closure.
Legal challenges question Section 230’s scope.
Calls for systemic online child protection.

Omegle, once a popular platform for connecting strangers through video chat, has officially shut down. Known for its tagline “Talk To Strangers,” Omegle became a concerning destination for minors, leading to its closure last Thursday. This decision comes after more than a decade of the platform inadvertently facilitating connections between children and predators, which led to multiple lawsuits and criminal investigations.

The platform has been embroiled in several child grooming cases. One notable incident involved a Norwegian teenager who met a predator on Omegle at the age of 14, leading to her abuse. In 2022, an FBI investigation uncovered a user sharing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) acquired through Omegle. The perpetrator was sentenced to 42 months in prison. That year, Omegle reported over half a million CSAM cases to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a figure higher than those reported by other major platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Discord.

Founder Leif K-Brooks announced the shutdown, highlighting the intensive content moderation efforts Omegle had undertaken. Despite these efforts, Brooks admitted the platform was misused for heinous crimes. The stress and financial burden of managing the site’s content were significant factors in his decision.

A pivotal lawsuit contributing to Omegle’s downfall involved a 13-year-old identified as C.H. She alleged that at the age of 11, she was coerced into sexual acts by predators she met on Omegle. Her case, which bypassed the protections typically afforded to tech companies under Section 230, highlighted the platform’s inability to safeguard young users effectively.

Despite Omegle’s attempts to combat child exploitation, including the use of AI and human moderators, critics argued that these measures were insufficient. The Canadian Center for Child Protection pointed out the inadequacy of Omegle’s age verification process, which merely required users to confirm they were 18 years old. Disturbingly, conversations and videos discovered on dark web forums indicated that predators had used Omegle to target and exploit children.

The closure of Omegle reflects a growing awareness and intolerance of platforms that fail to protect children from online sexual exploitation. While Omegle’s shutdown is a significant step, it highlights the broader issue of child safety on the internet, underscoring the need for more stringent regulations and proactive measures across all online platforms.

Source: Forbes

Tech & IT

Meta Shifts Age Verification Duty to Google and Apple App Stores

In a recent statement, Meta proposed that Google and Apple’s App Stores should take on the responsibility of online age verification for their apps. This move comes amidst increasing pressure for Meta to implement stringent age controls and parental consent mechanisms to safeguard younger users. The company’s head of global safety argued that the varied verification methods across U.S. states make it impractical for social media apps to manage this process uniformly.

Highlights:

Meta rejects app age verification role.
Suggests App Stores handle age checks.
Focus on parental consent, safety.
U.S. state laws vary in verification.

Meta, a leading technology company, recently emphasized its stance on not participating in online age verification for its applications. Instead, it suggested that this responsibility should be managed by the App Stores of Google and Apple. This position was clarified in a post by the company’s head of global safety and security.

This suggestion arises amidst growing discussions about implementing effective age controls and requiring parental consent for young users on Meta platforms. The company’s safety head stated that Meta is not willing to take on this responsibility, citing the inconsistency of verification methods across different U.S. states. Such disparities make it challenging for social media applications to uniformly implement age verification.

Consequently, Meta proposes that parents should be the ones giving permission for their children to use apps through Google Play and the Apple App Store. In this system, when a teenager attempts to install an app, a notification would be sent to their parents for approval. This approach is similar to how parents are alerted about in-app purchases. If a parent approves, the child can install and use the app; otherwise, the installation is blocked.

Furthermore, Meta suggests that age verification could be conducted during the initial setup of a child’s device, allowing parents to set age restrictions once, rather than repeatedly responding to alerts or approval requests.

Meta strongly supports legislation that mandates parental approval for users under 16. The company commits to developing features and settings to facilitate parental assistance in app usage by children.

Currently, there are no widespread regulations specifically mandating online age verification in app stores. However, some states, such as Louisiana, are enacting their own laws. These laws require users to verify their age through government-issued IDs to access certain websites. Utah, for instance, recently passed legislation requiring parental approval for children signing up on various online platforms, including Facebook.

As more states introduce age verification laws, discussions about extending these methods to other online applications are intensifying. Lawmakers are exploring new legislation aimed at expanding internet access regulation and enhancing safety measures for broader audiences, especially younger users.