Searches for “Taylor Swift” and “Taylor Swift AI” on X yielded no results on Monday after the social media platform was hit with a surge of fake AI-generated graphic images of the singer. 

Key Quote: In a statement, X head of business operations Joe Benarroch said, “This is a temporary action and done with an abundance of caution as we prioritize safety on this issue.”

The Details: Affected search terms were reportedly limited; searches for “‘Taylor Swift’” in quotes, “Taylor AI Swift,” and “Taylor AND Swift” each reportedly resulted in normal search results. Meta also appeared to respond to the fake images; search results for “Taylor Swift AI” on Instagram were hidden behind a disclaimer saying they were “sometimes associated with activities of dangerous organizations and individuals.” 

For Context: The surge of fake Swift images drew attention from the media, politicians, and even the White House over the weekend, calling attention to the risks of AI technology. Responding to the “alarming and terrible” fake images, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said “we have to act” to implement “guardrails” on AI and ensure “the online world is a safe world.” 

How the Media Covered It: Some outlets rated Lean Left by AllSides highlighted the ease of getting around the blocked search terms, potentially reflecting skeptical attitudes about X, formerly Twitter, under Elon Musk’s ownership. Fox News (Right bias) stood out by starting its article by tying Swift to her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce.