Fake and obscene images are plaguing Dr Daisy Dixon, a philosophy lecturer at Cardiff University, and she feels powerless to stop it. After sharing her gym progress photo, creepy online users started making unsettling changes to her image using AI – from clown makeup to sexualised alterations. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, Dr Dixon expressed how shocking and alienating this experience has been. “It makes you feel like you no longer own your body,” she shared, describing it as a form of “aesthetic domination.”
Despite reporting manipulated AI images, Dr Dixon was informed there were no violations of platform rules. This begs the question of ethics and consent in the world of AI, where tools can be misused to perpetuate misogyny and objectification. Dr Dixon emphasises the danger of normalising these invasions of privacy and how it reflects deeper societal issues.
It’s a complex matter that challenges the boundaries of technology and personal rights. Regulator Ofcom has reached out to Grok, the platform involved, yet Dr Dixon still questions the lack of accountability, especially from big tech figures like Elon Musk, who facilitate such technology.
While she’s contemplating her future on these platforms, Dr Dixon remains hopeful, saying, “There’s still a lot of light in that space.” This situation is a stark reminder of the urgent need for stronger safeguards in our digital world. We need to stand with those who call out such violations and push for change. What are your thoughts on the role of consent and responsibility in the digital age?