Taylor Lorenz’s Power User

AI Deepfake Panic is Killing Free Speech

17 snips
Jul 18, 2025
Kate Ruane, Director of the Free Expression Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology, sheds light on the alarming NO FAKES Act. She discusses how this proposed legislation, while claiming to protect identities from deepfakes, could actually lead to harmful censorship and erode privacy. The bill's implications for journalists, artists, and free expression are explored, emphasizing the need for clear laws that truly protect individuals rather than empower corporations. Ruane champions the fight for genuine free speech amidst rising tech regulations.
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INSIGHT

No Fakes Act Harms Free Speech

  • The No Fakes Act claims to protect people from deepfakes but is a dangerous and sloppy bill.
  • It risks destroying privacy and leads to censorship of protected journalistic and free speech.
INSIGHT

Bill Benefits Powerful Figures

  • The bill mainly benefits public figures and major rights holders who will control licenses to likenesses.
  • It could suppress dissent and limit use by historians, academics, and critics of powerful figures.
INSIGHT

Incentives Favor Content Takedowns

  • Online service providers must remove flagged digital replicas quickly without evaluating exceptions like news or parody.
  • They risk heavy penalties, pushing them towards excessive takedowns.
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