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Australia to tackle deepfake nudes, online stalking
Australia said Tuesday it will oblige tech giants to prevent online tools being used to create AI-generated nude images or stalk people without detection. The government will work with industry on developing new legislation against the "abhorrent technologies," it said in a statement, without providing a timeline. "There is no place for apps and technologies that are used solely to abuse, humiliate and harm people, especially our children," Communications Minister Anika Wells said. "Nudify" apps -- artificial intelligence tools that digitally strip off clothing -- have exploded online, sparking warnings that so-called sextortion scams targeting children are surging. The government will use "every lever" to restrict access to "nudify" and stalking apps, placing the onus on tech companies to block them, Wells said. "While this move won't eliminate the problem of abusive technology in one fell swoop, alongside existing laws and our world-leading online safety reforms, it will make a real difference in protecting Australians," she added. The proliferation of AI tools has led to new forms of abuse impacting children, including pornography scandals at universities and schools worldwide, where teenagers create sexualized images of their classmates. A recent Save the Children survey found that one in five young people in Spain have been victims of deepfake nudes, with those images shared online without their consent. Any new legislation will aim to ensure that legitimate and consent-based artificial intelligence and online tracking services are not inadvertently impacted, the government said. 'Rushed' Australia has been at the forefront of global efforts to curb internet harm, especially that targeted at children. The country passed landmark laws in November restricting under-16s from social media -- one of the world's toughest crackdowns on popular sites such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X. Social media giants -- which face fines of up to Aus$49.5 million (US$32 million) if they fail to comply with the teen ban -- have described the laws as "vague," "problematic" and "rushed." It is unclear how people will verify their ages in order to sign up to social media. The law comes into force by the end of this year. An independent study ordered by the government found this week that age checking can be done "privately, efficiently and effectively." Age assurance is possible through a range of technologies but "no single solution fits all contexts," the study's final report said.
[2]
Australia to tackle deepfake nudes, online stalking
Sydney (AFP) - Australia said Tuesday it will oblige tech giants to prevent online tools being used to create AI-generated nude images or stalk people without detection. The government will work with industry on developing new legislation against the "abhorrent technologies", it said in a statement, without providing a timeline. "There is no place for apps and technologies that are used solely to abuse, humiliate and harm people, especially our children," Communications Minister Anika Wells said. "Nudify" apps -- artificial intelligence tools that digitally strip off clothing -- have exploded online, sparking warnings that so-called sextortion scams targeting children are surging. The government will use "every lever" to restrict access to "nudify" and stalking apps, placing the onus on tech companies to block them, Wells said. "While this move won't eliminate the problem of abusive technology in one fell swoop, alongside existing laws and our world-leading online safety reforms, it will make a real difference in protecting Australians," she added. The proliferation of AI tools has led to new forms of abuse impacting children, including pornography scandals at universities and schools worldwide, where teenagers create sexualized images of their classmates. A recent Save the Children survey found that one in five young people in Spain have been victims of deepfake nudes, with those images shared online without their consent. Any new legislation will aim to ensure that legitimate and consent-based artificial intelligence and online tracking services are not inadvertently impacted, the government said. 'Rushed' Australia has been at the forefront of global efforts to curb internet harm, especially that targeted at children. The country passed landmark laws in November restricting under-16s from social media -- one of the world's toughest crackdowns on popular sites such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X. Social media giants -- which face fines of up to Aus$49.5 million (US$32 million) if they fail to comply with the teen ban -- have described the laws as "vague", "problematic" and "rushed". It is unclear how people will verify their ages in order to sign up to social media. The law comes into force by the end of this year. An independent study ordered by the government found this week that age checking can be done "privately, efficiently and effectively". Age assurance is possible through a range of technologies but "no single solution fits all contexts", the study's final report said.
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Deepfake and nudification apps to be 'stopped at the source'
Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. The Albanese government will seek to force tech companies operating in Australia to take responsibility for allowing access to artificial intelligence applications that enable illegal deepfakes and "nudification". Communication Minister Anika Wells announced on Tuesday the government would work with industry stakeholders and advocates to develop policy and legislation putting the onus on tech companies to remove these apps from circulation.
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Australia announces plans to legislate against AI tools used for creating non-consensual nude images and online stalking, placing responsibility on tech giants to prevent access to such technologies.
In a bold move to combat the rising threat of AI-powered abuse, the Australian government has announced plans to introduce legislation targeting deepfake nudes and online stalking tools. Communications Minister Anika Wells stated that the government will work closely with industry stakeholders to develop new laws against these "abhorrent technologies" 1.
Source: Australian Financial Review
The proposed legislation aims to place the responsibility on tech giants to prevent access to AI applications that enable the creation of non-consensual nude images and facilitate online stalking. Wells emphasized, "There is no place for apps and technologies that are used solely to abuse, humiliate and harm people, especially our children" 2.
The government plans to use "every lever" available to restrict access to these harmful tools, with a particular focus on so-called "nudify" apps – AI-powered software that can digitally remove clothing from images. This move comes in response to the alarming surge in "sextortion" scams targeting children and young adults 1.
Source: Tech Xplore
While the legislation aims to curb abusive technologies, the government has assured that it will not inadvertently impact legitimate and consent-based artificial intelligence and online tracking services. This balanced approach seeks to address the growing concerns surrounding AI misuse while supporting innovation in the tech sector 2.
This latest initiative follows Australia's recent landmark laws restricting social media access for users under 16 years old. These laws, set to come into effect by the end of the year, represent one of the world's toughest crackdowns on popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X 1.
Social media companies face substantial fines of up to AUS$49.5 million (US$32 million) for non-compliance with the teen ban. However, these laws have faced criticism from tech giants, who describe them as "vague," "problematic," and "rushed" 2.
An independent study commissioned by the Australian government has found that age checking for social media access can be conducted "privately, efficiently and effectively." The study's final report suggests that while age assurance is possible through various technologies, "no single solution fits all contexts" 1.
The proliferation of AI tools has led to new forms of abuse, particularly affecting children and young adults. Recent incidents include pornography scandals at universities and schools worldwide, where teenagers have created and shared sexualized images of their classmates without consent 2.
A survey conducted by Save the Children in Spain revealed that one in five young people have been victims of deepfake nudes, with these images shared online without their consent. This alarming statistic underscores the global nature of the problem and the urgent need for comprehensive solutions 2.
As Australia takes the lead in addressing these emerging threats, the international community will be watching closely to see how effective these measures prove in combating AI-powered abuse and protecting vulnerable individuals online.
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