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Leading deepfake porn site is shut down for good

Engadget

In a development that can only be seen as positive, non-consensual deepfake porn site Mr. Deepfakes has shut down for good, reports 404 Media. This news comes due to the site losing one of its service providers. "A critical service provider has terminated service permanently. Data loss has made it impossible to continue operation," a notice on the site reads. "We will not be relaunching. Any website claiming this is fake. This domain will eventually expire and we are not responsible for future use. This message will be removed around one week."


BBC and Agatha Christie estate respond to deepfake controversy

Mashable

There's a catch: the author, genre-defining mystery writer Agatha Christie, died 50 years ago, and was thus unavailable to participate. Instead, BBC Maestro used an actress and artificial intelligence to recreate Christie, drawing from the author's own novels, interviews, and letters for the course material. The creators describe the effort as a "world-first," and the "Agatha Christie On Writing" masterclass is available now. Almost as soon as the course launched, critics accused the BBC of making an Agatha Christie "deepfake." Meanwhile, BBC Maestro wants to emphasize the participation of the Christie estate and their high esteem for the late author.


Scientists warn deepfakes are about to become undetectable

Popular Science

AI-generated deepfake videos depicting humans are getting more advanced, and more common, by the day. The most sophisticated tools can now produce manipulated content that is indistinguishable to the average human observer. Deepfake detectors, which use their own AI models to analyze video clips, attempt to bypass this deception by searching for hidden tells. One of those is the presence of a human pulse. In the past, AI models that detected a noticeable pulse or heart rate could confidently classify those clips as genuine.


Congress passes 'Take It Down' Act to fight AI-fueled deepfake pornography

Mashable

Congress has passed a bill that forces tech companies to take action against certain deepfakes and revenge porn posted on their platforms. In a 409-2 vote on Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Take It Down" Act, which has received bipartisan support. The bill also received vocal support from celebrities and First Lady Melania Trump. The bill already passed the Senate in a vote last month. The Take It Down Act will now be sent to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law.


Meghan Markle reveals facial feature that cost her beauty campaigns

FOX News

Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo provides a review of'With Love, Meghan' on'The Ingraham Angle.' Meghan Markle found early fame for starring on a popular television show, but her early auditioning days didn't always land success. The Duchess of Sussex admitted beauty brands were reluctant to hire her due to her natural, freckled complexion. Markle, 43, starred as Rachel Zane for seven years on the legal series "Suits," but prior to hitting it big in entertainment, her commercial agent hit major roadblocks. MEGHAN MARKLE SHOOTS DOWN PRINCE HARRY DIVORCE RUMORS, ADMITS ROYAL COUPLE ARE FINALLY IN'HONEYMOON' PHASE Meghan Markle admitted she couldn't land a beauty commercial due to her natural features. The As Ever lifestyle brand founder, who went makeup-free to record the chat, discussed challenges in the beauty industry during an episode of "The Jamie Kern Lima Show."


US Congress passes 'Take It Down' revenge porn bill that also covers AI deepfakes

Engadget

The US House of Representatives has passed the Take It Down Act, a bipartisan bill that criminalizes the "publication of non-consensual, sexually exploitative images," including AI-generated deepfakes that depict "identifiable, real people." It would also compel platforms, such as social networks, to remove those images within 48 hours of being notified. The bill enjoyed overwhelming support in Congress and was cleared for approval by President Trump with a vote of 409 to 2. It passed Senate unanimously in February, and Trump, who previously talked about it while addressing Congress, is expected to sign the bill into law. Nearly every state in the country has its own laws revolving around revenge porn, and there are 20 states that already have laws that cover deepfakes. Take It Down's authors, who include Senator Ted Cruz, explained that those laws "vary in classification of crime and penalty and have uneven criminal prosecution." Victims are also still having a tough time getting their images removed under those laws.


Inside the First Major U.S. Bill Tackling AI Harms--and Deepfake Abuse

TIME - Tech

Here's what the bill aims to achieve, and how it crossed many hurdles en route to becoming law. The Take It Down Act was borne out of the suffering--and then activism--of a handful of teenagers. In October 2023, 14-year-old Elliston Berry of Texas and 15-year-old Francesca Mani of New Jersey each learned that classmates had used AI software to fabricate nude images of them and female classmates. The tools that had been used to humiliate them were relatively new: products of the generative AI boom in which virtually any image could be created with the click of a button. Pornographic and sometimes violent deepfake images of Taylor Swift and others soon spread across the internet.


UK regulator wants to ban apps that can make deepfake nude images of children

Engadget

The UK's Children's Commissioner is calling for a ban on AI deepfake apps that create nude or sexual images of children, according to a new report. It states that such "nudification" apps have become so prevalent that many girls have stopped posting photos on social media. And though creating or uploading CSAM images is illegal, apps used to create deepfake nude images are still legal. "Children have told me they are frightened by the very idea of this technology even being available, let alone used. They fear that anyone -- a stranger, a classmate, or even a friend -- could use a smartphone as a way of manipulating them by creating a naked image using these bespoke apps." said Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza.


Commissioner calls for ban on apps that make deepfake nude images of children

The Guardian

Artificial intelligence "nudification" apps that create deepfake sexual images of children should be immediately banned, amid growing fears among teenage girls that they could fall victim, the children's commissioner for England is warning. Girls said they were stopping posting images of themselves on social media out of a fear that generative AI tools could be used to digitally remove their clothes or sexualise them, according to the commissioner's report on the tools, drawing on children's experiences. Although it is illegal to create or share a sexually explicit image of a child, the technology enabling them remains legal, the report noted. "Children have told me they are frightened by the very idea of this technology even being available, let alone used. They fear that anyone – a stranger, a classmate, or even a friend – could use a smartphone as a way of manipulating them by creating a naked image using these bespoke apps," the commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, said.


Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera (wired) review: A premium porch watcher

PCWorld

The Ecobee Smart Doorbell (wired) is a reliable, easy-to-use, high-end video doorbell. It depends on hardwired power, but it can trigger a homeowner's existing chimes. As with many of its competitors, you'll need to pay for a subscription to unlock all its features, but it can be incorporated into a robust home security system with professional monitoring at a very reasonable price. If you're already using one of Ecobee's smart home thermostats or security systems--or you're thinking about installing one--you'll want to consider the company's first video doorbell. The Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera (wired) doesn't just compete with category leaders Ring, Nest, and Arlo, it also brings a few smart ideas of its own--and it plays especially well within Ecobee's larger smart home/home security ecosystem.